Marian Harkin

I thank Deputy Farrelly for raising this important issue and giving me the opportunity to respond on behalf of the Minister. Improving access to quality and affordable early learning and childcare is a key priority of the Government. I heard what the Deputy said about County Kildare and the specifics of the age profile in the county. In fact, at one point, I was privileged to represent County Kild…

I thank the Deputy and I hear what he has said. He spoke about vision. What I can say is that the Government is committed to building an affordable, high-quality and accessible early learning and childcare system. Although the Deputy said it is not enough, the programme for Government commits for the first time to provide capital investment to build or purchase State-owned early learning and child…

I thank the Deputy for her question. I am pleased to say this is my first opportunity to respond to an oral question. I am also pleased that it relates to Dunboyne College, which I know. I am familiar with the great work that is happening there. Louth Meath ETB, LMETB, is being supported by SOLAS in developing its preliminary business case, PBC, proposal for Dunboyne under the FET college of the …

I will begin with a comment. The Deputy spoke about a one-stage process. Whether it is a phased development or a one-stage development is a matter for the evaluation panel. The proposal is to develop fit-for-purpose accommodation on a greenfield site in Dunboyne. As the Deputy said, the college is currently located in poor accommodation in a large number of rental premises in an industrial estate.…

I hear what the Deputy is saying and I know that what she is talking about is a ring-fenced, purpose-built building. I know the envelope that is available is available to all of the 12 different colleges that are looking for this funding. All have been approved and they just have to get through this preliminary stage. I know Dunboyne is working very hard with LMETB. Without being certain about thi…

The further education and training system is central to the delivery of skills across the country to boost national competitiveness and support inclusion. The Further Education and Training Act 2013 requires SOLAS to prepare a strategy for the provision of further education and training and submit it to the Minister for approval. SOLAS, in partnership with the Department, is progressing the develo…

As background to the strategy, its implementation resulted in significant progress between 2014 and 2019 in the development of the FET sector within the overall education landscape. Of course, we are now looking to the future. The second strategy from 2020-24 set out the role of FET in a more collaborative and cohesive tertiary education system for Ireland. Now, we are looking at the 2025-29 strat…

It is very good news that Galway was one of two colleges given approval to proceed to the next step under the FET college of the future major projects fund. A total of 12 colleges have been earmarked and eight of them are progressing now. The Minister announced earlier this week that Galway was one of those eight colleges. Of course, the other four are on stream. Returning to the Deputy's contrib…

I thank the Deputy for raising this important question. My Department is actively progressing measures to expand training capacity in modern methods of construction, MMC, nationwide. We have quantified that using MMC could lead to a reduction of almost 10,000 in the number of additional workers required to meet domestic building and retrofitting targets to 2030, which is highly significant. Exist…

I am really happy to be able to participate in this discussion. This is my first contribution on the floor of this House since being appointed junior Minister with special responsibility for further education, apprenticeship, construction and climate skills. In opening the debate, the Minister, Deputy Lawless, spoke of the importance not just of the higher education system but also of the further …

I thank Deputy Lahart for giving me the opportunity to outline to the House on behalf of the Minister for Education the position regarding the financial situation in Sacred Heart Junior National School in Killinarden. The Department of Education has been made aware of the current situation regarding the financial position of this school. The Department is committed to offering all available and a…

I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to outline the position in relation to the financial situation in Sacred Heart school, Killinarden, and the ongoing support that the Department of Education is providing. I speak on behalf of the Minister for Education. That is what I can do. I hear what the Deputy is saying. I hear that circumstances are such that the advice being given to the scho…

I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to outline to the House, on behalf of the Minister for Education, the position regarding the financial situation in St. Cronan’s Junior National School in Swords. I fully accept that the school does extraordinary work. The Department of Education was not made aware of the current situation regarding the financial position of this school. The Depart…

I again thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to outline the position regarding the financial situation in St. Cronan's Junior National School in Swords and the ongoing support the Department of Education is providing. In addition to the grants I mentioned, €45 million in cost-of-living supports issued in November 2024 to support all recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free…

Along with others, I mark this historic day, as the House has elected the first woman Ceann Comhairle. She follows in the footsteps of Cathal Brugha, our first Ceann Comhairle, who was elected on 21 January 1919, just over 105 years ago. I was very pleased to nominate Verona for the role of Ceann Comhairle, as I was to nominate Catherine Connolly as Leas-Cheann Comhairle five years ago, because of…