96. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on developments from his and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage's refusal to provide a second-year cost-of-living package for students, despite the cost-of-living crisis continuing, resulting in student fees increasing by €1,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37827/25]
Sentiment score: 0.24
The decision of the Minister’s Department and the Department of housing not to step in and offer urgent protection for students is seriously misguided and out of touch. Students are already at breaking point and now must face this cost that many cannot afford. Can the Minister not see that this is a deterrent and not an incentive to continue their education?
Sentiment score: -0.08
Earlier on, the Minister lauded one-size-fits-all for secondary education, so why can he not say the same for this?
Sentiment score: 0.00
There is a twofold decision coming from the Minister's Department and the Department of housing that offers no support, no protection and no hope to these young people. It is shocking that the Minister has decided to charge students more money for their college education while they are already struggling through this continuous cost-of-living crisis. The Government has shown it is completely out of touch with the pressures ordinary students and their families are facing. A report that will be launched soon by Gearóid Folan of TUS midwest contains shocking statistics. Some 41.5% of students live with their parents, which puts additional strains on households. Some 0.4% of students are in homeless accommodation. While that may be a small figure, no student should ever have to be in a situation where they are not properly housed. Similarly, 1.7% of students are couchsurfing. How is the Minister going to put things to rights?
Sentiment score: -0.23
To talk of students in the North is just a case of “Look over there. Do not look at the mess we are creating here.” That is exactly what the Minister is saying.
Sentiment score: -0.04
At least they have certainty. They know what they are budgeting for. I would also like to mention the pressure on parents now and that households, because of this decision, will struggle to cope. I have parents contacting my office in desperation as they are already paying massive living and grocery costs and are now facing into this payment in September. Students who also work full time are trying their best to meet this cost but for many, this simply will not be possible. What happens then? Do we just cast these young people aside and hope Australia or Canada will offer better opportunities? The Minister says that no decision has been made yet he clearly stated that the fees will revert back up, which means they will go back up to €3,000. That is a decision the Minister made and he said it quite clearly. The decisions can be made. It does not have to be this way. We need to have the backs of students and their families. We will demand better for our young people. The Minister says he will too, but he is not giving them certainty. The Minister is not giving them any hope. The Minister speaks of the future. It has been said previously that fees will be reduced or fees will be abolished, and they have not yet been.
Sentiment score: 0.07
98. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for information on the decision behind the cut of €1.3 million from SOLAS to the Tipperary Education and Training Board, which has resulted in the cancellation of a valuable programme for early school leavers at Cashel local training initiative, which affects 14 students who will be unable to complete their studies and progress to level 5 - equivalent of honours leaving certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37828/25]
Sentiment score: 0.29
Could the Minister give me some information on the decision behind the cut of €1.3 million from SOLAS to the Tipperary Education and Training Board which has resulted in the cancellation of a valuable programme for early school leavers at Cashel local training initiative, LTI, which affects 14 students who will be unable to complete their studies and progress to level 5, and if he will make a statement on that?
Sentiment score: 0.59
Not to continue funding really means cuts in funds because the funding is not continuing. As explained to me, these learners in Cashel can do level 4 in Youthreach but cannot do level 5, which is what these young people have set their sights on. Eight distinctions at level 5 are the equivalent of 390 leaving cert points. Even if some people do not get the eight distinctions and get a mixture of pass, merit and distinction, they will get points for every module they undertake. There are no points for level 4 and as level 5 gives them access to college, this is the aim of most of the students. The students were devastated when they were told about this. One student said that it is disgraceful people are being denied education, when it is constantly preached and encouraged that there are no limits to their learning, and that this seems quite limiting. It is also important to acknowledge the role core staff have had in these students' lives. They are now also facing an uncertain future.
Sentiment score: -0.15
While Tipperary ETB may have tried to find solutions to avoid this situation, and it claims that "no current learners are impacted, as all students enrolled in these programmes have completed their programme", that is simply not true. I have received all the testimonials from these learners. All are very much impacted and all are now struggling to come to terms with what is next for them. At the heart of communities and smaller towns throughout the country are further education and training, FET, courses that give young people a second chance at education. The Minister of State and I can both acknowledge that conventional classroom education does not suit everyone. Local training initiative, LTI, courses, such as the one in Cashel, offer a lifeline to other opportunities, which allows them to further their education to college level. I ask her to urgently reassess this. I hear that she is trying, but she needs to go into this decision deeper and quicker in order to allow these learners to continue with their education, as they deserve that and should not be put in this situation.
Sentiment score: -0.01
99. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the protections his Department can give to apprentices to ensure they receive the agreed wage and are doing work relevant to their apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37829/25]
Sentiment score: 0.25
SOLAS was at last week's committee meeting, when we were told nobody was overseeing that these things were happening. A percentage of apprentices said that they do not have any access to a training adviser. Some of them are afraid to complain in case they lose their apprenticeship place. Some of them are given an agreed wage through collective bargaining but are not getting that wage or are being asked to do jobs that are not relevant to their apprenticeship. Apprenticeships are an investment in the skills development of an employer's workforce and should not be a cost. The labour costs related to apprenticeships are lower than any other employment relationship, so when they are lowered again, this causes consternation among apprentices. It is not fair that they are being asked to do work that is not relevant to them and there is nobody overseeing this. We questioned SOLAS and the ETBs about this last week.
Sentiment score: -0.16
I hear the Minister on that but in my recent discussions with Connect, the trade union representing apprentices, I was told that there is great need for quality assurance in all areas of apprenticeships. This must be measured within the employment to ensure the apprenticeship is delivered properly and that the apprentice is given access to all areas of the curriculum which feature on the job. If SOLAS is responsible for employer registration, it should also be in responsible for ensuring that sanctions are imposed on those who fail to deliver a safe, fair and responsible framework of work for apprentices. We all know how important apprentices are. We all know that we need them when it comes to workers. When it comes to building for housing, we need apprentices. We also need to protect apprentices and make sure that they get through their apprenticeship in a fair and equitable way.
Sentiment score: 0.43