Tá mé ag tógáil na ceiste seo thar ceann mo chomhghleacaí, an Teachta Ó Cearúil. The question is to ask the Minister if supports and grants are available for Irish students undertaking specialist artistic third level training, such as ballet dancing and dance training, that may not be available in Ireland, what supports are available to those families and those students undertaking such training and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Sentiment score: 0.36
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as ucht an fhreagra sin. I want to be clear on the kinds of programmes I am talking about. I am talking about specialist ballet programmes that may not necessarily result in an undergraduate degree award but that are for individuals who would have been practising or learning how to perform ballet, in some cases since the age of four. They would enrol in universities abroad, for example the University of the Arts in Rotterdam. A number of the constituency cases Deputy Ó Cearúil and I have been dealing with have come back and said that such a programme is not covered by SUSI grants at the moment. When people have a talent for something like ballet and it is something they want to pursue, it is important that, where programmes are not available in Ireland, some flexibility be given to people who want to study. I know of instances where families have explored all available supports, such as through the Arts Council and SUSI and have been told quite clearly that such courses are not eligible for coverage by SUSI. Therefore, my question is on whether there is scope for grants or bursaries or for an alteration to be made to the criteria for SUSI grants to support families in such instances when students are not able to pursue these kinds of courses in this country.
Sentiment score: 0.33
I ask for some consideration by the Minister of the possibility of exploring joint approaches with other Government Departments. When we see great people achieve greatness in their disciplines, we take credit for them and take pride in those people being Irish citizens. It would be great for people like these constituents we have dealt with who have an aptitude for things like ballet and will represent Ireland in the international arts environment, if we were able to say the State played a role in supporting their love of their vocations and in them developing the skills and doing the training they needed to excel on the world stage. It is about reviewing the criteria for SUSI grants, especially if there are niche courses like this for which there are no equivalents in this country. Consideration should be given to what kinds of supports could be made available. If it cannot be done through the SUSI angle, will the Minister look at partnering with other Government Departments or State agencies like the Arts Council and the creative Ireland programme, not only for things like ballet, but for other specialist art and performing arts we are all familiar with in our constituencies? We all take pride in them when they excel but we must ensure the State has played a role in helping them to do so.
Sentiment score: 0.56
222. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps his Department is taking to support and encourage the provision of adult and community education programmes through the medium of Irish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22067/26]
Sentiment score: 0.28
Is ceist í seo le cur ar an Aire maidir leis an tacaíocht atá á cur ar fáil ag a Roinn le soláthar oideachas pobail agus soláthar oideachais do dhaoine fásta trí mheán na Gaeilge. My question relates to the provision of adult and community education through the medium of Irish. Will the Minister make a statement on the matter?
Sentiment score: 0.01
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as ucht an fhreagra sin. Tugaim moladh mór do na ETBs timpeall na tíre atá ag cur ar fáil scileanna nach scileanna Gaeilge iad ach atá ag cur foghlaim scileanna ar fáil trí mheán na Gaeilge. Tá an-tábhacht ag baint leis sin, ní hamháin sna ceantair Ghaeltachta ach sna ceantair nach bhfuil an Ghaeilge in úsáid iontu chomh forleathan céanna. I pay particular tribute to the City of Dublin ETB for the Gaeltacht skills course it has put in place. It is a two-week immersion course for tutors and teachers in the City of Dublin ETB to give them the ability to revive their subject expertise through the medium of Irish. I was glad to hear the Minister articulate on the floor of the Dáil that nuair a cuirimid ceisteanna faoi úsáid na Gaeilge sa bhreisoideachas, nílmid ag labhairt faoi Gaeilge a chur ar fáil i ranganna, ach ábhair eile a chur ar fáil trí mheán na Gaeilge. That is an important distinction to make. I would like to see the City of Dublin ETB approach expanded across the country, not only in extending the provision of courses through the Irish language but also ensuring its staff feels comfortable doing so. Support from the Department is needed to allow the sort of immersion courses in City of Dublin ETB to widely expand the ability of staff to deliver tuition through Irish.
Sentiment score: 0.18
Molaim go mór na hiarrachtaí sin. We need to go a little further with the upcoming draft strategy on FET, that should have - and I hope it will - an explicit mention of the provision of courses that are not on the Irish language but are taught through the medium of Irish. Ba mhaith liom rud eile a chur in iúl don Aire agus na ETBs ar fud na tíre ná go bhfuil an-chuid Gaelcholáistí againn ar féidir a úsáid don oideachas do dhaoine fásta agus don oideachas pobail. Community colleges provide a broad range of adult and community education courses. There is no reason Gaelcoláistí could not be asked to do the same and provide the same sort of model. That is something I would encourage. Tá an t-éileamh ann don Ghaeilge. Tá daoine ann atá ag iarraidh cur lena gcuid stór focal agus lena gcuid Gaeilge. Tá múinteoirí ann ar fud na ETBs ar fad atá in ann an teagasc seo a dhéanamh. Caithfimid an mhuinín a thabhairt dóibh é sin a dhéanamh as Gaeilge. Táim ag súil go ndéanfaidh an tAire obair leis na ETBs chun é sin a bhaint amach.
Sentiment score: -0.14
269. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the position regarding his plans to bring Marino Institute of Education under the remit of his Department rather than the Department of education; the timeline envisaged for any such change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22066/26]
Sentiment score: 0.13
This question is to ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the position regarding his plans to bring the Marino Institute of Education under the remit of his Department rather than the Department of Education and Youth; the timeline envisaged for any such change; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Sentiment score: 0.40
I will clarify that I am asking this question on my own part, because I discovered the lacuna that Marino is not under the aegis of the Minister’s Department. This query has not been requested by Marino. As the Minister said, it is a fine institution. My wife is a graduate of it. She did her degree there. I am also struck by the sheer range of programmes it offers. It does not just offer primary school teacher training programmes. It also offers the early childhood education programme and a further education and training programme. I was puzzled, therefore, when I learned it was not under the aegis of the Minister’s Department. The Minister’s answer would suggest that the college needs to designate itself appropriately to be under the aegis of the Minister’s Department, as opposed to it falling outside its remit. Could the Minister go into a bit more detail about where the lines lie in respect of it falling under his remit? If the college were to decide to take the path referred to, and, again, I have not spoken to the institution about this issue, what sort of timeframe might see it falling under the remit of the Minister?
Sentiment score: -0.01