Results 41-60 of 33,688 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (5 Mar 2024)

Simon Harris: UCC is an autonomous body established under statute. As an autonomous body, it is a matter for UCC to prioritise its capital projects accordingly and the expenditure of the University’s income (public and private) is a matter for the individual institution and this includes responsibility for ensuring appropriate policies and procedures are in place to oversee the use of its resources....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (5 Mar 2024)

Simon Harris: Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, progression, previous academic attainment and means. The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: An Teanga Gaeilge (5 Mar 2024)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 802 and 803 together. Leithdháileann mo Roinn maoiniú athfhillteach ar an Údarás um Ard-Oideachas (HEA) le haghaidh eisíocaíochta dírí d’institiúidí ardoideachais an HEA. Leithdháileann HEA é sin mar bhlocdheontas d’institiúidí ardoideachais chun tacú le costais phá...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Properties (5 Mar 2024)

Simon Harris: My Department's offices are spread across three locations, Stephen's Green, Marlborough St and Tullamore. The Office of Public Works sources and funds the Accommodation for each of these properties. The information in respect of aegis bodies, within the scope of the Deputy’s question, is not held by my Department. Contact details for these bodies are set out in the attached...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (5 Mar 2024)

Simon Harris: I recently received Government approval for an overarching policy approach for student accommodation in Ireland. This policy looks at a number of ways to stimulate supply of student accommodation, including standardised design, continued promotion of the rent-a-room scheme and recognition of the Government's commitment to reactivating vacant and derelict properties. My officials are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (5 Mar 2024)

Simon Harris: The information requested by Deputy McAuliffe is presently being collated by SOLAS. An answer will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (5 Mar 2024)

Simon Harris: UCC is an autonomous body established under statute. As an autonomous body, it is a matter for UCC to prioritise its capital projects accordingly and the expenditure of the University’s income (public and private) is a matter for the individual institution and this includes responsibility for ensuring appropriate policies and procedures are in place to oversee the use of its resources....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (5 Mar 2024)

Simon Harris: Recognising that cost is a barrier to education, one of this Department’s priorities is to ensure students and their families can benefit from financial support to help with the cost of third level education, including apprenticeship. Access to Apprenticeship One of the five overarching objectives of the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 is "Apprenticeship for All”,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (29 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: The Deputy will be aware that Higher Education Institutions are autonomous bodies; responsible for assessing student applications and determining the tuition fee payable by individual students. In this regard, as the Deputy will appreciate, it is not possible for my Department to offer guidance on the fee arrangements that may apply for individual students, such as those that may apply in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Institutes of Technology (28 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: Awaiting reply from Department.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (28 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: I have a singular focus on securing sustained reductions in waiting times for apprenticeship training. There has been a significant reduction in apprentices waiting longer than 6 months for their off the job training. The backlog stood at 3,817 in January 2024. It was as high as 5,212 in August 2023. The progress achieved results from a cross-sectoral plan put in place by the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (27 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: I have been working with Minister O’Brien on this matter and I really want to thank him for his continued support. We both agree the actions of these providers is unacceptable. While it may suit some specific third level students, it is not desirable or affordable for the majority of the student population and we intend to take a number of actions to mitigate this barrier to accessing...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (27 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: The Deputy will be aware that over the course of 2023, Kerry ETB (KETB) were supported by SOLAS in developing their Preliminary Business Case (PBC) proposal for Killarney under the FET College of the Future Major Projects fund. The development of a robust PBC is fundamental to the requirements of the Infrastructure Guidelines. KETB submitted their business case for their FET College of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (27 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: It is anticipated that any borrowing framework for TUs would in the first instance prioritise the provision of student accommodation in line with commitments in the Government's Housing for All plan. Housing for All contains a number of key actions relating to the development of additional student accommodation supply supported by the State. It also identifies the need to examine...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (27 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: I am strongly committed to meeting electro-mobility skills requirements in light of the role of electric vehicles in supporting the achievement of Government's climate action objectives. In this context, my Department is continuing to work closely with Longford Westmeath Education and Training Board (LWETB) to establish a national eMobility Capability Centre in Mullingar. Last November...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (27 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: The Prison Education Taskforce, which I co-chair with Minister for Law Reform, James Browne TD, was established last May. With representatives from both Departments, the Irish Prison Service, SOLAS, the National Apprenticeship Office, Education and Training Boards Ireland, the Probation Service, Maynooth University and former prisoners, the Taskforce aims to improve education and upskilling...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Legislative Programme (27 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: My Department is currently prioritising two pieces of legislation, the Research and Innovation Bill and the Construction Safety Licensing Bill 2023. As part of Impact 2030: Ireland’s Research and Innovation Strategy, the Government has approved the creation of a new statutory research funding agency “Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland”, under the aegis of my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (27 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: My Department co-leads with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications a dedicated "skills and workforce workstream" as part of the cross-government Offshore Wind Energy Programme to meet Government's ambitious targets for offshore wind capacity. The recently launched report, Building our Potential: Ireland’s Offshore Wind Skills and Talent Needs, is a key...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (27 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: Ensuring a supply of qualified vets to meet the demands of Ireland's agri-food sector is an important issue for my Department. My Department does not place a quota on the number of places on veterinary medicine courses offered by higher education institutions. The number of places provided each year is determined by the institutions themselves in line with their capacity. There are,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Reviews (27 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: In November 2022, I appointed Dr Andrea Johnson and Mr David Cagney to undertake an independent National Review of State Supports for PhD Researchers. This is the first time that State supports for PhD students have been considered holistically in this manner. During their exercise they met with over 35 stakeholder organisations, including an all-day workshop with student groups, and they...