Results 61-80 of 33,686 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Simon Harris

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

Simon Harris: I am concerned that a move to annual contracts by some private operators will further increase the cost and barriers to higher education for students. I do not support this divergence away from the policy intention to facilitate students with accommodation during the academic year, and any planning conditions of specific student accommodation. Accordingly, I along with the Minister...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (27 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: The National Review of State Supports for PhD Researchers is the first time that the issue of state supports for this group has been considered holistically. In the first report from this Review which was published in June 2023, the Co-Chairs made an independent recommendation for an increase towards an optimum stipend level of €25,000, subject to funding availability. Under...

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

Simon Harris: In line with Housing for All objectives to increase protections in private rental accommodation, my Department developed a Voluntary Regulatory Framework together with a sample license agreement to assist both homeowners and students who wish to participate in the Rent a Room scheme. The guidance aimed to highlight to homeowners and students the key issues to consider when entering into a...

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

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. With respect to the area of Higher Education, as she will be aware the Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest has a campus in Ennis serving County Clare. Previously, County Clare had lacked a university presence of its own, being instead traditionally served by higher education institutions such as the University of Limerick,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Climate Action Plan (27 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: My Department has delivered all of its actions for Climate Action Plan 2023 and therefore has no delayed action in 2023 to report. With regard to Climate Action Plan 2021, there are no Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science actions outstanding. My Department remains committed to actively contributing to the overall delivery of Climate Action objectives.

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

Simon Harris: I published the fourth National Access Plan to Higher Education in August 2022. The plan aligns with and builds on the wider ambitions of the Programme for Government to provide accessible, affordable education to all citizens. While a full midterm review of the plan will take place in 2025, I am pleased to say that we have made progress on a number of areas which support students who are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Reform (27 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: The mental health and wellbeing of students is a priority for me and my Department. Institutions receive funding from a variety of sources that contribute to the expenditure associated with the full range of institutional activities. Funding includes recurrent funding allocated by my Department to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to HEA funded Higher Education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Staff (27 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: In May 2022, I published a policy framework on the future of funding for third level education in Ireland. The framework identifies priority strand of work, which increased core funding could advance. The strands are: Strand 1: Enhance quality and international standing of the higher education system across the three missions of teaching and learning, research and engagement Strand 2:...

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

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for this important question. With respect to Higher Education, my Department has formally established the Munster Technological University (MTU) which has a campus in Tralee, (formerly Institute of Technology Tralee), serving County Kerry. Previously, County Kerry had lacked a university presence of its own, being instead traditionally served by higher education...

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

Simon Harris: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien and I have asked our officials to engage on the decision of private student accommodation providers to move to 51-week leases. We recognise that while there may be a market for 51 week leases among some members of the student population, it is not desirable for the vast majority of third level students. I will be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (27 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy is aware, there has been extensive engagement between my Department and the Department of Health and the two education providers, Trinity College Dublin and University College Cork regarding expanding provision in Radiation Therapy programmes. These discussions are ongoing. For additional places to be made available on Radiation Therapy programmes it is essential to ensure the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (27 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: StudentSurvey.ie (formerly known as the Irish Survey of Student Engagement) collects responses from undergraduate and taught postgraduate students on their experience of higher education. Since 2019, a similar survey, PostGraduate Research (PGR) StudentSurvey.ie, has also been administered biennially to students enrolled on postgraduate research programmes. These surveys provide invaluable...

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

Simon Harris: In November 2022 I secured Government approval for a new policy to provide State assistance to stimulate the supply of student accommodation for public higher education institutions. The Student Accommodation long-term policy was approved by Government on the 16th January 2024. This policy will inform future student accommodation strategies and schemes which will be developed throughout...

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

Simon Harris: I published the fourth National Access Plan to Higher Education in August 2022. The plan aligns with and builds on the wider ambitions of the Programme for Government to provide accessible, affordable education to all citizens. The plan identifies students with a disability including students with an intellectual disability as groups who are underrepresented in Higher Education. Since the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (27 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: Craft apprenticeships have a largely standardised delivery model. SOLAS serve as a central coordinating provider, setting curricula across programmes. Craft apprenticeship programmes are continually monitored with the aim to keeping them up-to-date and in line with industry standards. Programme content is updated from time to time to allow for technical or legislative changes. QQI will be...

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, Cavan Monaghan ETB (CMETB) were supported by SOLAS in developing their Preliminary Business Case (PBC) proposal for Cavan town 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. CMETB submitted their business case for their FET...

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, Galway Roscommon ETB (GRETB) were supported by SOLAS in developing their Preliminary Business Case (PBC) proposal for their Mervue site in Galway city 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. GRETB submitted their...

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

Simon Harris: Housing for All contains a commitment to support TUs to develop purpose-built student accommodation where such a requirement exists, through access to appropriate financing. In November 2022, Government approved funding of €1m to assist the TU sector in developing a student accommodation programme based on a regional needs and feasibility assessment. The HEA appointed...

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: Public Private Partnerships (27 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: There are eleven projects being progressed through the PPP programme. Bundle one, consisting of six projects, has commenced construction. There are five projects in Bundle two, two of which are for South East Technological University (SETU) – one at Waterford campus and one at the Carlow campus The project in Waterford is the largest at c. 13,000 sqm in the Higher Education PPP...