I must first send best wishes to the Deputy's colleague, Teachta McGettigan. I understand she has not been well this week and normally she would be a key part of this debate. She is a very valued contributor to the education conversation. I just wanted to send our best wishes. I know she was taken unwell this week. On the Deputy's question, he will be aware, and as all in Dundalk know at this stage, that committed to developing the North-South collaboration in student mobility but particularly in driving on the partnership between Queen's University and Dundalk IT, DKIT, with the aim of Dundalk IT becoming a legally recognised university college of Queen's University, aligning on awards, on research and on quality assurance, creating the first all-island university. This is actually very exciting and something I am really pleased to be in a position to progress, and I am intending to progress very rapidly. It is something we are all very much aligned on and celebrate. It is a new model within the higher education landscape. There are significant opportunities for cross-Border collaboration and enhancement of higher education on an all-island basis through that. In March I was present at the signing ceremony between the two institutions. The Deputy was present at that great event, as were Deputy Erin McGreehan and many others. That work is progressing as rapidly as my officials can deliver it. I am pleased to steward it through. On another note, the Deputy asked about other collaborations or partnerships. I have met the Minister for the Economy in Northern Ireland, Caoimhe Archibald, MLA, on a number of occasions. We are working together to synchronise the two jurisdictions as best we can in terms of rules, exam results being released, and how the points are computed between the A levels versus the leaving certificate. As recently as this morning I launched the AIReady website that is about AI skills where I had a conversation with a number of interested parties from north of the Border who would like to see that developed on an all-island basis. I am having ongoing collaboration, which has been very positive and constructive so far, and I intend to continue it.
Sentiment score: 0.41
A body of work is required. This is the first time this has ever been undertaken and there is a job of work to do to align the different rules and regulations across the Border. My Department has been intensively engaged with that. In consultation with my officials, DKIT has established a number of representative groups working to identify requirements and issues, and bottom out the issues around legislation, the awarding of degrees and other qualifications, quality assurance criteria and aligning the two systems on each side of the Border to make sure they can work together and find out what the model is to present these into the legislation that I will bring before the House in the near future. There has been active engagement between my officials, between Queen's University and Dundalk IT, and between the agencies of the Higher Education Authority and Quality and Qualifications Ireland, QQI on this end, and the Department of the Economy in the North. They have carried out a programme of consultation with key stakeholders, which is going well. A regulatory impact assessment is also being performed which will inform the legislative programme. It is certainly full steam ahead and progress has been good to date.
Sentiment score: 0.37
To continue that theme of collaboration, Universities Ireland is co-funded by my Department and the Northern Ireland Department for the Economy. This is another cross-border body. Through that body universities across the entire island of Ireland have been working together on this project but also on others. They have really displayed an agility, a willingness and an ambition, which I applaud, to align entry procedures and to encourage student mobility. I have asked my officials to engage with the representative bodies across the Irish Universities Association and the Technological Universities Association to take this matter forward. I met with Dr. Archibald quite recently at the all-island ministerial forum where we compared notes on this and other matters. The associations were very keen to align those processes and make sure their students can travel each side of the Border seamlessly and without having to come across any kind of procedural hurdles or hiccups that might delay that path because it is a fundamental goal that students in the North be treated the same as those in South and vice versa.
Sentiment score: 0.23
Is institiúidí féinrialaitheacha iad ollscoileanna de réir bhrí Acht na nOllscoileanna, 1997. Dá bhrí sin, coinníonn siad freagracht as an ngnó ar fad maidir le hacmhainní daonna, faoi réir chomhlíonadh bheartas an Rialtais maidir le líon na bhfostaithe agus an bheartas pá. Maidir le ceapacháin in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, tá siad faoi chúram údarás rialaithe na hollscoile sin, agus níl ról agamsa ná ag mo Roinn sa phróiseas sin. Aithníonn mo Roinn an tábhacht ghéar le cur chun cinn agus leathnú múineadh agus úsáid na Gaeilge ag an tríú leibhéal. Le hAcht an Údaráis um Ard-Oideachas, 2022, cuirtear oibleagáid reachtúil ar an Údarás um Ard-Oideachas tacú le hinstitiúidí ardoideachais chun an Ghaeilge a mhúineadh, a chur chun cinn agus a úsáid. Chun na críche sin, tacaíonn mo Roinn le hinstitiúidí ardoideachais, tríd an Údarás um Ard-Oideachas, trí mhaoiniú lárnach agus trí shruthanna maoinithe sonracha do thionscnaimh Ghaeilge. Leithdháileadh beagnach €1.8 milliún in 2024 agus 2025 ar Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe. Tacaíonn Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge leis an nGaeilge laistigh d'Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, agus ar fud Éireann. Cuireann an t-acadamh roinnt clár acadúil ar fáil trí mheán na Gaeilge. Tacaíonn an t-acadamh le hOllscoil na Gaillimhe freisin agus í ag iarraidh a bheith ina hollscoil dhátheangach trí fheabhsú scileanna sa teanga Gaeilge a chur ar fáil don fhoireann agus seirbhísí aistriúcháin a chur ar fáil don ollscoil.
Sentiment score: -0.20
Tuigim an fhadhb. Is institiúidí féinrialaitheacha iad ollscoileanna de réir bhrí Acht na nOllscoileanna, 1997. Dá bhrí sin, coinníonn siad freagracht as an ngnó ar fad maidir le hacmhainní daonna, faoi réir chomhlíonadh bheartas an Rialtais maidir le líon na bhfostaithe agus an bheartas pá. Is ábhar don chomhlacht rialaithe san ollscoil féin é ceapadh uachtarán nua cé go mbeifí ag súil go mbeadh próiseas oscailte earcaíochta i gceist. Ní bhíonn aon ról ag an Roinn ná ag an Aire sa cheapachán seo.
Sentiment score: -0.08
Tá suim agam sa bhfadhb agus tuigim é. Beidh suim ag an Teachta sa mhéid atá á dhéanamh sa Roinn ag obair sa spás sin. Is rannpháirtí gníomhach í an Roinn sa réimse agus tá obair na hearnála ardoideachais tábhachtach chun a cinntiú go bhfuil luach ár saothar againn leis na scileanna teanga atá riachtanach chun an sprioc inniúlachta 20% a bhaint amach. Tá a lán oibre ar siúl sa Roinn towards that regards. Tá réimse leathan cúrsaí nua a bhfuil cuid acu i nGaeilge ar fáil do mhic léinn. Is iad na hinstitiúidí féin a chinntigh soláthar na gcúrsaí sin de réir neamhspleáchas a ceadaíodh. Mar sin féin, tacaíonn an Roinn le réimse téacsleabhair Gaeilge freisin atá dírithe ar thacú le húsáid na Gaeilge ar champas tríú leibhéal lena n-áirítear tacaíocht do chlubanna agus cumainn Gaeilge. Tá m’am thart.
Sentiment score: -0.24
First of all, to take the Dundalk Institute of Technology and Queen's University Belfast partnership, that partnership under development is a hugely significant initiative, as I am sure the Deputy will agree, and advances the Government's goal, not only of balanced regional development, although it very much does in creating a university now on that north-east corridor between Dublin and Belfast, but by creating the first ever all-island university it very much advances the shared island objectives and broader objectives of alignment between both jurisdictions on the island and creating that shared entity. That partnership will include the development of shared processes in awarding qualifications, managing quality assurance of these different assessment bodies and grades, etc., within it, and collaboration in the research and innovation space. It is also worth noting that Dundalk, under the partnership and under the technical specifications we are devising in terms of how it will operate, will retain its status as an autonomous designated institution of higher education in the State. While being part of Queen's, it also remains an autonomous entity within the State. The matter has progressed steadily. I first brought it to Government in November. I was delighted to be able to do so. I secured Cabinet approval and set out immediately on pursuing the legislation that would be required to give effect to it. The colleges themselves, Queen's and DkIT, have been engaging closely and setting up working groups along with officials from my Department to prepare the necessary requirements and regulations to align the two jurisdictions and address whatever wrinkles may be there between incompatibilities to bring those together. I am conscious of the Deputy's interest in IADT, which I share. I have visited the college on a number of occasions. I have met the IADT executive, president and team, both on site and, indeed, in here and in other areas. The IADT is one of only two remaining ITs in the State. It is a distinctive institution. It is a great opportunity for it, as a leader in the creative arts. I will come back to that in my next contribution.
Sentiment score: 0.32
Taking the Deputy's questions in reverse order, I will deal with the TUI in the first instance. The manner of the announcement was sensitive and was a case of jumping together. The executive of Dundalk IT, the board of Queen's University and, indeed, Cabinet here considered the matter on the same morning at the same time, and having come to a shared conclusion, we were then in a position to announce. I hope the Deputy will understand due to the sensitivities around it. It is historic. It is groundbreaking as a development creating the first all-island university, and it was essential that we moved as one. I hope that puts some context on the announcement. I have met the TUI executive on a number of occasions, both here in Leinster House and elsewhere. I attended their conference recently and engaged with them on this matter and many other matters. We had a good, solid engagement. I do not say they agree with me on everything, nor I with them on everything, but we have a good working relationship and there is mutual respect there. I might come back to the IADT-specific position in the next round because I want to go into some detail on that.
Sentiment score: 0.31
The Technological Universities, TU, Act is predicated on the creation of technological universities through the amalgamation of institutes of technology and by ITs coming together to form a technological university. That is the framework that is provided for in the current TU Act. The Act does not currently have a mechanism for the elevation of a single IT to become a university. That process is not catered for within the Act. The Act is for an amalgamation and coming together of different satellites to become one. It does not have a single elevation path. In the case of Dundalk and Queen's, there are a number of unique aspects to the partnership, because of the North-South and cross-jurisdictional nature of it. That requires separate legislation. I intend to publish heads of Bill at the earliest opportunity, which will be very soon and perhaps as early as next week, and we will see the flow forward from it at that stage. I share the ambition of IADT to achieve university status. I fully support it in doing that. I respect the rights of staff and, indeed, learners at the college to have their say in that process. That is the process I am also engaging in, working with the institute in parallel.
Sentiment score: 0.18
The student grant scheme operated by Student Universal Support Ireland, SUSI, provides maintenance grants to eligible undergraduate students pursuing approved courses in other EU member states provided, of course, that they qualify for a SUSI grant at home in the first instance. A qualifying student can take that grant with them if they are pursuing a course of study abroad within the EU. In general, the rules of the scheme state an approved undergraduate course is defined as a full-time undergraduate course of not less than two years' duration pursued in a university or equivalent third level institution that is maintained or assisted by recurrent grants from public funds in another EU member state or the UK. Therefore, there are certain minimal entry criteria to qualify, but they are quite well understood and quite compatible with the SUSI scheme as it operates at home. Students who may be in receipt of SUSI grants in a domestic institution whose course of study includes a compulsory period of study abroad, and those registered in participating higher education institutions taking part in schemes such as Erasmus or other student mobilities, continue to receive their maintenance grant payments while abroad. Effectively, they take SUSI with them. If they are undergoing a placement, an exchange or an Erasmus programme, their grant travels with them and continues to support them. However, the student grant scheme does not extend to the payment of tuition fees to institutions outside the State, other than exceptional provision in a small number of cases for postgraduate courses in Northern Ireland. This provision, which has been in place since the establishment of SUSI, is consistent with the principles of the Good Friday Agreement and is intended to promote greater tolerance and understanding between both jurisdictions. A little like the previous question where I spoke about Queen's and Dundalk IT, there is a particular sensitivity and complexity to aligning the North and South jurisdictions but it is seen and treated, I believe correctly, as a special case that deserves special support and a special set of rules to promote and encourage that mobility. It is a special case for Northern Ireland, which does not extend beyond that in terms of fees for tuition payments.
Sentiment score: 0.59
I see the point and the scenario the Deputy described and I am sure these talented young people have great opportunities available to them in certain specialist centres of education outside the State. It is unfortunate that specialist area of training is not available in the State at present. There are institutes such as the Royal Irish Academy of Music and a number of different dance and music courses are available across many institutions. I am not sure of the degree of compatibility. I heard the Deputy say, and noted it, that this particular course is not available in the State. I am not sure whether there are comparable courses. The Deputy mentioned he had explored the avenue of the Arts Council. It does appear that this may be a candidate for a bursary scheme or sponsorship scheme. There are students studying in Ireland who have such bursaries from their home states, although not necessarily from their states but from sponsors who have taken them under their wing to promote their talent. Sometimes that happens on a private sector basis. In examples I have seen, students ended up in Ireland supported by sponsors abroad but it is not a scheme currently in operation here.
Sentiment score: 0.09
There is a case to be made for sponsoring, perhaps to a greater degree than is currently the case, students in the situation the Deputy described. It may be of interest to the Deputy and the House that I have asked my Department to commence preparation of a strategy for the creative arts, on how we support our artistic institutions, including the Institute of Art, Design and Technology, IEDT, the National College of Art and Design, NCAD, the Royal Irish Academy of Music and others, which perform a vital function in the creative tapestry of the social life in the State. It is pertinent at a time when we require more transversal skills and the deep dive of specialised education is no longer as transferable as it once was. We need graduates to come out with skills in communication, problem solving and analysis. I often find the creative arts is a wonderful foundry for that kind of skill set and those kinds of ideas. I will take it on board. I would be happy to talk to the Deputy separately if he wants to follow up with me on the details of the case, or Deputy Ó Cearúil may wish to. In the context of the creative arts strategy, I will certainly examine whether there are any lacunas that could perhaps be usefully filled.
Sentiment score: 0.40
The Government is strongly committed to promoting and supporting the Irish language, including in the sphere of further education and training. Education and training boards, ETBs, play a crucial role in this work. ETBs assess demand in their communities for programmes delivered through Irish, including adult and community education, and provide these programmes where needs are identified and it is practicable to do so. Several ETBs participate in the breacadh scheme, which provides important support through the development of Irish-language teaching and learning resources, along with tutor training and curriculum development. ETBs also offer Irish language classes at a range of levels, including seasonal part-time and evening courses, with provision available for accredited awards from the national framework of qualifications, NFQ, levels 3 to 6. In addition, Irish-language community organisations may apply to their local ETB for funding through the adult literacy for life collaboration and innovation fund, as well as the reach fund, subject to eligibility criteria. These funds support innovative projects addressing unmet literacy needs and engaging disadvantaged learners. Some examples of projects funded under these initiatives include digital skills programmes for older adults delivered through the medium of Irish and supports for refugees seeking to learn the Irish language. We spoke earlier about English for Speakers of Other Languages, ESOL, provision. There was some Irish language provision for Ukrainian nationals at one stage and gardening and horticulture classes are also delivered bilingually. That gives an illustration of the breadth of different courses being delivered by ETBs through the medium of Irish in a range of subjects. The fundamental principle, which the point the Deputy made so well, is that Irish-language education does not mean teaching Irish. It means teaching other subjects through the medium of Irish. I am keen to progress that and expand on it.
Sentiment score: 0.34
B'fhéidir go mbeadh suim ag an Teachta i ngrúpa oibre earnála nua um riachtanas oideachas treasach don Ghaeilge san earnáil phoiblí. Tá an grúpa oibre seo á bhunú ag an Roinn agus an Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta faoi ghnímh 4.3.3 den Phlean Gníomhaíochta do Sheirbhísí Poiblí Gaeilge 2026-2028. Is oifigigh shinsireacha ón dá Roinn, chomh maith le páirtí leasmhara earnála ó Ranna Rialtais ábhartha, gníomhaireachtaí Stáit agus ionadaithe ó na hearnálacha breisoideachais agus ardoideachais a bheidh mar chomhaltaí an ghrúpa. Is é cuspóir an ghrúpa machnamh a dhéanamh ar an gcaoi ar féidir réimse iomlán an soláthar oideachais tríú leibhéal ar fud an ardoideachais, breisoideachais, na hoiliúna, na bprintíseachtaí, agus na foghlama tacú leis an bplean náisiúnta do sheirbhísí Gaeilge.
Sentiment score: -0.07
I agree with the suggestion about the greater utilisation of Gaelcholáistí and Gaelscoileanna as part of the educational real estate, which could play host to some courses of this nature. That is a good suggestion and one that I will take away with me and consider. I reiterate my Department's commitment to furthering provision of Irish language in this space and across all aspects of the tertiary estate. Tá an Rialtas tiomanta oibriú ar bhonn thras-Rannach oideachas trí mheán na Gaeilge a neartú ag gach leibhéal ó na leathbhlianta go dtí an tríú leibhéal ag cinntiú gur obair thairbheach agus inbhuanaithe atá ann chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn. I hope I have provided some reassurance to the Deputy that this is being taken seriously by me and within an Roinn freisin.
Sentiment score: 0.43
I ask the Deputy to repeat that because I have run out of prepared answers. That is fine, I can take a free run but I ask the Deputy to repeat his question.
Sentiment score: 0.30
I would never be so bold as to make a commitment that every applicant will get his or her first choice every time because I am not sure that is something the system has ever achieved. However, 80% of applicants receive their first, second or third choice within the system. The vast majority of students receive a choice within their top three course preferences and that is positive. The traditionally high-point courses in healthcare, including medicine, nursing and dentistry, as well as physiotherapy and veterinary medicine the Deputy mentioned are all in high demand and they typically attract high points. One of the issues I have been working on is increasing the provision of courses. We have 1,100 additional places available in the current year. When I assumed my role in the Department, I asked the HEA to conduct an expression of interest exercise. The authority went to the different universities and asked them how many more students they could take on board. I was happy to fund that and indeed, we have done that already this year by creating the 1,100 additional places. This is also imperative in the context of the whole-of-government focus on disability services and healthcare and in the context of our demographics, whereby we have a population that is ageing and living longer. It is key that people are enabled not just to live longer lives, but to live healthier lives as well, and part of that is having the medical and other professionals available to assist. This is an important mission of Government. I am currently in the process of undertaking a second round of expressions of interest. I have invited the universities to consider whether, having provided 1,100 extra places, they can do more. Can we create more places? That has two effects. The first is that it creates more capacity in the system, which should exert downward pressure on points, leading to more students getting their first choice or certainly, their first, second or third. It also increases the throughput of those professions through the system. It is a very important piece of work.
Sentiment score: 0.26
On dentistry, I was pleased to visit the RCSI's new dental hospital in Sandyford recently where a number of new places have been created straight into the system. I met students who are already in first year on that course and they were participating eagerly. I am very aware of the shortages of GPs and the pressure on rural practices as a TD and have seen it myself in my own constituency. One of the benefits of the new courses I have been supporting and encouraging is that rather than doing the same thing in every university, and repeating it around the country, universities are coming forward with different offerings that are more targeted and localised. For example, in Galway a new medical degree is being offered in the area of rural and remote medicine. That focuses on future practitioners who will have a rural catchment area and a slightly different practice than might be the case for an urban practitioner, which is helpful. The ATU and SETU are creating new veterinary courses with a focus on large animal practice, unlike the small animal practices that are typical of cities. The RCSI have a proposal for a new GP medical course focusing on care in the community. Each of these new courses has a particular focus which is of societal benefit.
Sentiment score: 0.35
I sympathise with the plight of people. The Deputy asks what I am doing about that. I am creating more professionals. I am creating more college places and more capacity on those courses that are in demand. I am doing this for two reasons. The first is to enable access for professionals into those courses and the other is to ensure that we have a supply of graduates into the system to provide the services that the Deputy speaks about. It is not related to my Ministry but there are incentives for GPs practising in rural areas. The rural practitioner allowance is a payment made to GPs taking on a rural practice to reflect the nature of the work they do, which can be somewhat different. In terms of conversations with the Department of Health, the Minister for Health and I have had a number of conversations on this issue. We very much have a shared goal and I want to thank the Minister for Health publicly for her collaboration and cooperation with me on this piece of work. I also want to thank the Minister for Education and Youth in that regard because we are also looking at speech therapists, educational psychologists and a number of different professionals within the educational sphere. One of the key aspects to this is not just increasing the number of college places, although that is important, but having the placements that students can go on within the hospital setting as part of their training. The Minister for Health is working with me on that.
Sentiment score: 0.21
I can give a very good answer in a minute or I can give the Deputy an answer off the top of my head right away. I do have any prepared answers left. We are beyond the range of questions that are normally reached. I am very much aware of that situation. I have met the group with the Deputy in Leinster |House and we have had some good conversations. A disability demonstration project is under way in my Department, the purpose of which is to fathom the appropriate level of supports available to adult learners within the third level and further education system. It may not be a direct correlation to perhaps an SNA-type role that we would see within the second level or primary school system because there has to be a degree of autonomy, dignity and recognition that the young adult may not be as keen to have a companion at all times in a way that a student at a junior level might. The actual nature and parameters of it are a little bit complex and require understanding. There are multiple other supports from assistive technology through to different schemes. I increased the student assistance fund to €19 million this year, the highest it has ever been. It has a discretionary allocation within it that welfare officers and access officers in colleges can use to support students with a particular need. I appreciate that the question the Deputy is asking goes to the workers of his constituency, and the wider group whom I have met and engaged with. My proposal is to engage with the Deputy offline on that in terms of the latest development. It has been through the WRC, as he mentioned. I do not want to say too much on the Dáil record for fear of interfering with the industrial relations process, but we might engage on that offline.
Sentiment score: 0.26
There are a number of different ways in which I can assist students with challenges in navigating the educational system. One cohort of such students are those with intellectual disabilities who are engaged in further education and training programmes. I became aware of a lacuna in the system last year when a case was presented to me. There was no transport system available for those students to avail of learning within their own areas, which often meant a parent had to take time off. Perhaps they could not even take up a job or work outside the home because the student was entirely dependent on that parent to bring them up and down to the place of learning. Those places of learning were somewhat unique and specialist and not necessarily available in every town or village. It is typically one or two per county. I intervened in that regard and made a sum available - €2 million, in fact - through SOLAS, which has been disbursed to the ETBs. This now means a transport scheme is available for those learners with intellectual disabilities to take up their FET place within the system. The funds have been made available to the ETBs. My Department has issued guidance as to how that should be operated. I hope that will make a meaningful impact for those learners and their families.
Sentiment score: 0.14
As I said, I am aware of the issue and am very much engaged with the Deputy and the workers on it. We have had good meetings with them. The Deputy engaged with my predecessor on the matter in a similarly constructive fashion. I thank him for the approach he has taken to it. While we are talking about the assistance provided through those very diligent workers that the Deputy represents and those to whom he has introduced me in his area and other parts of the country, we also have work to do around the transitions from education into the workplace. Many learners with intellectual of physical difficulties have said to me - I have met a variety of groups - that they are managing to navigate the education system, but it is about actually getting a job. It is about getting the dignity at work at the far side. That is fundamental. I am working with my colleague the Minister, Deputy Calleary, on that and on the pathways. My Department is investing significantly. A number of officials are looking at a project around that to support that transition journey so that they will find an employer that is suited to their requirements and so we can make that journey work for all.
Sentiment score: 0.24
I am familiar with the situation. Research Ireland is changing some of the schemes it operates. It is consolidating some schemes. There were a number of different schemes within it, partly arising from the merger of the Irish Research Council to Research Ireland, and there was some duplication of schemes and programmes within that. There has been a consolidation. A new strategy has been adopted by Research Ireland, which is one I applaud and share the ambition of. Research Ireland has been funded to a level that has never been seen before. It has been one of the focuses of my time in this role that I have invested significant research funding, including in Research Ireland, which should be working its way through to the individual researchers. I would give an assurance to those researchers that while there may be a change in title of some of the schemes and a movement from one scheme to another, the overall contents of those programmes are being continued. The funding is also being continued. Those researchers should not have to fear the changes they are hearing about.
Sentiment score: 0.15
I would be very concerned if I was to learn, and I invite the Deputy to share details with me if it is happening, of researchers being told they cannot research certain areas and are being directed toward particular areas of research, because academic freedom is a key part of my strategy, the Department's strategy and Research Ireland's strategy. It is also the case that I have promoted education as a public good and the pursuit of curiosity and knowledge as one of the four pillars of my Department's strategy. It is fundamental to my approach that researchers should not be told that a particular area is off limits or is not in vogue. In fact, there should be that full academic freedom. There are a number of schemes in place that should be supporting that. I invite Deputy Boyd Barrett to share those details with me if he wishes. The Deputy mentioned AMLÉ. I met AMLÉ yesterday. I hosted a cost of college event where we met a number of students, learners, apprentices, researchers and people in the system across a range of institutions. It was a very helpful event which will inform my deliberations on the budget later this year. It is on my list to arrange, in the next couple of weeks, a dedicated sit-down meeting with the Irish Federation of University Teachers, IFUT, which represents researchers. I met with IFUT before but I am working towards a one-to-one meeting to hear what the organisation has to say on the issue. I invite Deputy Boyd Barrett to share with me some of the details if there are issues of that kind.
Sentiment score: 0.37
The Deputy obviously did not hear me on David McCullagh's show two weeks ago when I extolled the virtues of an artistic education, an arts degree and the humanities more widely.
Sentiment score: 0.36
It is something I have been saying for ten years. The Deputy and I have joined in common cause on that in this House before. A point I have made at a number of events I attended, including today, for example, with companies in the technology and digital space, is that we need to produce a wide range of graduates across all disciplines. That is even more the case in the age of AI and digital because the problem-solving, collaborative, creative mindset enables and creates those transversal skills that can be applied across a range of jobs and areas of industry in the future. The job for life has long been a thing of the past but the skill set for life is something that is continuing to change and evolve. It is those creative industries that can very helpfully augment that talent pool in a portable, transferable way. Ironically, and perhaps unexpectedly, they are the skills that employers are seeking out more and more, rather than deep technical qualifications that are, of course, in great demand, but workers need to be able to translate learning across different sectors and respond to change as it comes at them.
Sentiment score: 0.27
I thank Deputy Cummins. I share her high regard for the CTC sector and also for the very similar work Youthreach organisations perform. I have had the privilege of visiting both in my role on a number of different occasions. I attended the Irish Association of Community Training Organisations, IACTO, annual conference. I think it was in Athlone. It was certainly in the midlands. I attended that event, spoke with the IACTO executive and addressed the membership. It was a really positive event which I was pleased to be able to engage with. I have a great interest in that area. In terms of the pay negotiations, I do not want to trespass on the functions of the Department of public expenditure, which is leading the negotiations in that regard. However, I am aware of some advances and some progress made. I do not want to go into great detail on the record in the Dáil for fear of misquoting or misattributing a figure somewhere because it would be unhelpful to the process were I to do that. I will share my view that CTCs and Youthreach perform similar functions and it would be desirable to strengthen both by ní neart go cur le chéile - being stronger together. There is a sort of consolidation exercise in a very positive way that could be performed there in terms of bringing them together. I have engaged with some CTCs on that initiative already. It is something I have called out in my tertiary strategy, which I brought to Cabinet on Tuesday. There are several actions in that strategy, close to 100. One of them is to look at a consolidated strategy that would allow CTCs to enjoy effectively the same rights and entitlements as the Youthreach centres currently enjoy, in a way that promotes them as a common entity or certainly as a common mode of educational delivery. There is such a similarity across the two services that it would make sense to consolidate in a way that gives both a greater platform.
Sentiment score: 0.35
I completely agree with the Deputy. In terms of the vulnerable cohort of students, part of my political philosophy is to take a progressive approach by giving most support to people who need it most and making targeted interventions. That goes to the heart of the issue, in terms of the learners attending Youthreach, a CTC or an LTI. I have had the privilege of meeting many such learners. In fact, I have a piece of art that was put together by a learner in Kilkenny Youthreach. It now has pride of place on the wall of my office across the corridor. The stories of each learner are unique and different. They are often inspiring and challenging. One of the points made to me by the educators in the centres is that there is not a homogenous group. There are many different people coming through with many different stories to tell. Many of them have challenges, all of a different nature. Many of them blossom when they are given an opportunity in a CTC or Youthreach centre. That is something I am very keen to continue to support.
Sentiment score: 0.26
The Deputy is right. I will give another example of the kind of creative learning that occurs. In the course of maths week this year, I visited Youthreach in Naas in my own constituency where I saw many of the learners being engaged. Learning in the STEM and technology space was very evident that day. From speaking to tutors and learners, I know there is a range of activities and skills. Down the road, Newbridge CTC is another centre I visited recently. Any time I visit a constituency, I seek to go to a Youthreach or CTC because I think it is so valuable to do so. I am continually being impressed by the quality of education and the determination found in those institutions. Separately, on the question of Youthreach, I am also aware of the issue of aligning with the school calendar. The request has been made and it has only come to my desk very recently. It is an issue I engaged with the TUI on at its conference and when I met its executive. To put it simply, I have great sympathy for the argument and I hope to be in a position to progress this matter shortly.
Sentiment score: 0.28
I am very familiar with the Marino Institute of Education, notwithstanding that it is under the remit of the Department of Education and Youth. I recently visited it with Deputies Brabazon, Heneghan and Ó Muirí. The college serves a vital function in producing primary school teachers. It also has a wonderful ethos in terms of its embrace of an teanga Gaeilge and iománaíocht agus peile. The institute has had a variety of sporting achievements. The cultúr there spoke very strongly to me when I visited. It was very evident in the institution. I do not want to put it too strongly because, again, some of these negotiations and engagements can be somewhat sensitive, but I am aware that Marino has engaged with at least one third level institution in the co-awarding of degrees. I think it is not a secret that it is Trinity College Dublin. An interest has been expressed in exploring a closer collaboration or partnership. I am not in any way opposed to that, but neither am I in a position to mandate it. Regarding the next steps, Marino, if it wishes to, is freely entitled to continue as it is as a stand-alone, independent college within the system. Equally, if it wishes to achieve an alignment with a third level higher education institution, it is perfectly entitled to do so as well. As I set out on the day, without going into the details on the floor of the Dáil, a number of steps are to be taken towards that, a process which ultimately means the college's destiny lies with itself and whatever putative partner it may wish to engage with. I have set out what needs to be done if it wishes to follow that path. It is an autonomous institution. I think that has been regarded as helpful within the college. If it does wish to take the next steps, it knows what to do and I would certainly be happy to engage as that progresses.
Sentiment score: 0.32
A number of institutions in the State are perhaps finding they struggle. I am not saying Marino is in this category, but there are some smaller institutions that may find they do not enjoy critical mass and wish to partner with a larger institution. It is one of the reasons the technological universities were created. We had multiple institutes of technology around the country, and joining those together meant the whole was greater than the sum of the parts. That was very much the philosophy that led to the creation of the technological universities. The process was assisted by an OECD report to ensure that the criteria for gaining university status were being met in all cases. To be fair, there have been some excellent examples of research innovation and high-quality education across all the TUs. It is beyond doubt at this stage that they have not only met those targets but surpassed them, and this is why they are technological universities today. Some of the institutions, however, for whatever reason, were not suitable or did not engage in that process. Earlier, we heard a debate about the Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology, and I absolutely share its ambitions for university status. It is the aspiration of Dundalk Institute of Technology, along with Queen's University, to become a university college there.
Sentiment score: 0.22