18. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the rationale her Department has in choosing particular schools for priority building lists, to outline the denomination of each of the 105 schools chosen by category; if schools that are currently at stage 2b will be progressed over the next two years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28885/26]
Sentiment score: 0.01
I want to reference one school in particular. I taught in Coachford College for a year. The Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, will be acutely aware of Coachford College. I know he has engaged with the school on a consistent basis as it represents a number of his own constituents. Coachford College is a fantastic school with around 900 pupils. It has a huge offering of subjects. However, Coachford College has been waiting a number of years for a new school building. It is not part of the 105 school building projects list despite the fact it has been waiting so long. It is absolutely appropriate that the Department of education would communicate with schools like Coachford College on an ongoing basis so that they have an understanding on whether or not they will move to the tender process over the next two years. Will the Minister also clarify the date on which the new tranche of schools will be announced? Will it be 2028?
Sentiment score: 0.17
I was in communication with the Department last Thursday at the Committee of Public Accounts. We have moved to a modular accommodation style of building works. While we are still building traditional school buildings we have significantly moved towards modular accommodation on which a significant amount of money has been spent over the past five years. I am not saying at all that modular accommodation is not welcome. I am sure it is welcome the majority of school grounds across the country but exact clarification must be given to schools like Coachford College in relation to when they might possibly see a new school building. A significant number of students in the likes of Coachford College who have gone through their whole six years without ever seeing a new school building. It is a fantastic school. It covers a huge area as the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, knows. There are a number of primary schools in the whole area of Duhallow. It is essential that schools like Coachford College would have some sort of an understanding of when they might see shovels in the ground for new school buildings.
Sentiment score: 0.25
228. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of apprenticeships the State has taken on each year from 2020 onwards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22012/26]
Sentiment score: 0.15
What number of apprenticeships has the State taken on each year from 2020 to date? We have discussed apprenticeships previously in this House. They are extremely important to me as a public representative and as someone who has grown up with many family members who have become apprentices.
Sentiment score: 0.12
I firmly welcome the developments in the public service apprenticeship model made by the Department of further and higher education. The Minister, Deputy Lawless, and I have had many exchanges on the role of apprenticeships in our public services. It is being focused on by the Government and I welcome this. It is something I am absolutely focused on. We all know of the difficulty with the number of apprenticeships our local authorities are able to take on. Will the Minister of State outline, in relation to the goal of having 750 apprenticeships annually, whether we have an idea where they will be working in our public service? Will they be located in our local authorities? I want to know where they will be located. I have made the point previously on the floor of the Dáil, and I will make it again, that local authorities are finding it ever more difficult to try to get their own workforce and are leasing out a lot to third parties.
Sentiment score: 0.15
The increase is significant and I am glad that some of what I spoke about 15 or 16 months ago has been taken on board, relating to the role of apprenticeships. With regard to students in fifth or sixth year who may be thinking about going into third level or progressing their academic life, or people in their 20s or whatever age they may be, where or how can they access this information? Is it being publicised correctly? Is it being given to career guidance teachers in schools? Is it openly and freely available through an online system? Are we promoting it? Can we help to promote it in different ways to try to get apprenticeships into our system? Genuinely, this is the first time I have heard about a lot of what the Minister of State spoke about. Is there a possibility, from our perspective or from an outside perspective, of promoting this better so we can give young people in this country the opportunity of jobs in our public service?
Sentiment score: 0.33
241. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the level of demand for specific courses particularly in health services, inclusive of medicine, nursing and dentistry; the number of applicants who apply for a particular course that will be granted a place on the course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22015/26]
Sentiment score: 0.18
I wish to ask the Minister about the level of demand for specific courses, particularly in healthcare including courses in medicine, nursing and dentistry; the number of applicants who apply for a particular course and the numbers that will be granted a course for the coming academic year.
Sentiment score: 0.54
The question generally relates to the number of courses available in medicine, nursing and dentistry and if all applicants for whom it is their number one choice on their CAO form, for example, will receive a place on those courses.
Sentiment score: 0.15
I thank the Minister for that. I asked the question because a lot of people have come to me who achieved the required points but they did not get the actual course because of a lack of places. I also asked it because we all see the extensive waiting lists across our health service, particularly for those trying to access a GP in their local area. There are also extensive waiting lists within community hospitals and in larger hospitals in Cork, Dublin, Galway and elsewhere. I am particularly interested in dentistry courses because I have come across a number of cases of people having difficulty accessing dental hygienist courses. I know of one person who applied for a dental hygienist course in UCC but a place is just not available. Has the Minister been in communication with the Department of Health regarding the level of demand for these courses, given the waiting lists that we have in our health service?
Sentiment score: 0.00
The question is based on the fact that people have come to me because their child has been waiting on a dental appointment for two years. People cannot get access to a GP, particularly those who are living in rural areas. I am sure the Minister is acutely aware of that. The first question that is often posed by constituents is around why we do not have more nurses, doctors or dentists because that would bring down the waiting lists. A cross-government approach to this is important. There are significant issues in our health service and the waiting lists. The possibility of providing extra courses, particularly in medicine, nursing and dentistry, would have cross-government and cross-House support because it would have the effect of bringing down the waiting times that many people are facing.
Sentiment score: 0.16