Ninth Level Ireland

“Jan O’Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to plans by management at Dundalk Institute of Technology to develop a fifth school with the working title of new school of flexible and postgraduate provision at the institute arising from a recent report on the Review of Key Functional Areas relating to Admissions July 2019; if his Department has had engagement with the institute on this proposal; his views on the failure of the institute to progress an initiative for technological university status; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 19 November]

“Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of the additional contribution by the State, exclusive of that funded by employers, in respect of pay restoration; the amount to meet demographic increases; the amount that represented a real additional investment in higher education institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 19 November]

“Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has had meetings with his officials recently to discuss third level policy funding …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 19 November]

“Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a commitment has not been given to address the future funding of third level education; the further reason no response has been given on the Cassells report since it was first published three years ago; the representations he has made to the European Commission regarding its decision on funding options; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 19 November]

“Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of funding provided to the higher education sector in each of the years 2015 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; the projected funding allocated for 2020; the amount of the additional funding allocated funded by employers via increases in the national training fund levy; and the amount funded directly by the Exchequer …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 19 November]

“The government is unlikely propose any firm policies for higher education funding in an upcoming general election, after instead appointing a group of financial management consultants on a 12-month contract to examine the best way forward for the sector …” (more)

[Emer Moreau, University Times, 18 November]

“The Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh TD and Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD have today (Monday 18 November 2019) announced that a contract has been awarded by the Structural Reform Support Service (SRSS) of the European Commission for an economic review to be conducted on increasing future sustainability of higher and further education provision in Ireland and the associated assessment of future funding options for the tertiary education sector …” (more)

[Department of Education and Skills, 18 November]

“Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the application by Waterford Institute of Technology for university status …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 12 November]

“Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the investment made in public and private higher education as a proportion of national income, that is GDP and GNI; the way in which this compares to key competitor countries such as the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 12 November]

“Minister Joe McHugh has been accused of stonewalling an Oireachtas Committee for a year-and-a-half on the future of third-level education. The chair of the Education Committee has said the funding crisis at third-level is being ignored by the Government, which has yet to start value-for-money report on the three proposed funding options for higher education …” (more)

[Elaine Loughlin, BreakingNews.ie, 11 November]

“On the 13th of October in a ceremony in Rome attended by Prince Charles, Education Minister Joe McHugh and tens of thousands of pilgrims UCD’s founder John Henry Newman was canonised by Pope Francis. A so-called traitor to England, Newman has now been acclaimed by the heir of his country’s throne and is a respected as a beloved saint across the Catholic world …” (more)

[Adam O’Sullivan, College Tribune, 11 November]

“An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD today (Thursday 7th November) joined Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh TD, Minister for Business, Enterprise, and Innovation Heather Humphreys TD, Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD, and Minister of State for Training, Skills, Innovation, Research and Development John Halligan TD. to launch the €300 million Human Capital Initiative and the Skills and Talent pillar of Future Jobs Ireland …” (more)

[Department of Education and Skills, 7 November]

“Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the importance of sufficient canteen facilities being made available to third-level students undertaking courses; his further views on whether the service of food is a vital welfare issue for students; if his attention has been drawn to a situation (details supplied); the steps he will take to help resolve same; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 5 November]

“Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he is satisfied that the continued activities of institutes (details supplied) do not negatively impact on the activities of universities here; the actions he has taken to ensure same; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 5 November]

“Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh TD and Minister of State with responsibility for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD today (6 November 2019) welcomed the report of the TU Research Network (TURN): Connectedness and Collaboration enabled by Connectivity, which was presented to the Department by the TURN high level working group …” (more)

[Department of Education and Skills, 6 November]

“Just 61 students in higher education in 2017 were members of the Travelling community, a new report from the Department of Education has found. The report examines a wide range of areas across primary, post-primary and third-level education in Ireland …” (more)

[Emer Moreau, University Times, 31 October]

“The Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh TD today (Thursday 31 October) welcomed the publication of the Action Plan for Education 2019 Quarter 3 Progress Report. The Action Plan – Cumasú is emphasising empowering through learning and highlights the significant strategic reform programme under way in the education and training sector …” (more)

[Department of Education and Skills, 31 October]

“Department publishes facts and figures on all aspects of the education system. The Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh TD today (Thursday 31 October) announced a special new report has been published providing a snapshot of our education system. The Education Indicators for Ireland report for the first time gives a comprehensive overview of the scale of school and third level education and training …” (more, download)

[Department of Education and Skills, 31 October]

“Maureen O’Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the action he has taken on the reports that UCC and Trinity College Dublin have been involved in experimentation on thousands of live animals each year; and his plans to deal with banning vivisection …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 23 October]

“Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has received an application from Athlone Institute of Technology and Limerick Institute of Technology to come together to form a new technological university for the region pursuant to the Technological University Act 2018; when a decision will be made thereon; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 22 October]