Results 3,681-3,700 of 46,260 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (20 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: The Deputy’s question would be more appropriately directed to the Minister of the Environment, Climate and Communications as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) operates under the aegis of that Department.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (20 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: There has been no direct financial supports provided to purpose built student accommodation providers between 2000 and 2022 inclusive. The difficulties being faced by students in accessing affordable accommodation is something this Government is committed to addressing. In November 2022, I received Government approval and support for proposals to increase the supply of student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (13 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: The Deputy will be aware that Budget 2024 contains a package of measures to support households with the cost of living. These cost of living measures include the provision of one off funding to reduce the student contribution fee payable by higher education students that are eligible for the free fees initiative (FFI), in academic year 2023/24, by €1,000. In relation to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (13 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. 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 the student population. We have asked our officials to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (13 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: The Medical Council is the regulator of the medical profession in Ireland. The Medical Council sets and monitors standards for undergraduate, and postgraduate medical programmes and the bodies that deliver them to ensure that curricula are in line with Medical Council rules, criteria, standards and guidelines. I am not aware of any proposals to upgrade the Graduate Entry Medicine...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (13 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: The main support available to students is the statutory based Student Grant Scheme where students are studying for the first time or are progressing to study at a higher level. This means that a student must be moving from year to year within a course, having successfully completed the previous year or be transferring from one course to another, where the award for the subsequent course is of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (8 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: As requested, tabular data on the monies dispersed under the Technological Sector Advancement Fund is laid out below: Technological University TSAF Allocations and Year 1 Payments Institution TSAF Allocation TSAF Year 1 Payments ATU €8,500,000 €5,528,390 MTU €7,500,000...

Death of Former Taoiseach: Expressions of Sympathy (7 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: I am honoured and humbled to join my colleagues in paying tribute to and mourning the loss of John Bruton, our former Taoiseach, Minister for many Departments, a TD for more than three decades, the EU's ambassador to the United States and, of course, leader of our party, Fine Gael. On my behalf and that of the Wicklow Fine Gael organisation, I extend my sincere sympathy to the Bruton family:...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Construction Industry (7 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: A key Government priority is to increase the number of people employed in the construction sector. This is essential to the Government meeting its ambitious targets under Housing for All. The CSO Labour force survey of Q3 2023 shows when compared with pre-Covid levels of Q4 2019 the total employment in the sector has grown by 20,400 (+14%). DFHERIS works with sectoral partners to increase...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (7 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: Significant engagement is ongoing between my Department, the Department of Health, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, and the Department of Education to develop a joined-up approach to address system level demand in therapeutic disciplines and healthcare programmes, particularly for young people. Last year 462 additional places were be created in higher...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Children in Care (7 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: An inclusive higher education system is a national and European priority. Supporting Inclusion is one of the six strategic goals set out in my Department’s Statement of Strategy. I have stated that it is a priority of mine to deliver a more equitable higher education system. At Higher Education level the new National Access Plan which was launched on 31st August 2022 aims to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions (7 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: Springboard+ is managed by the Higher Education Authority on behalf of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. The eligibility criteria for accessing Springboard+ courses are set out at: https://springboardcourses.ie/eligibility. As places on Springboard+ courses are limited, applicants who are on a qualifying Social Welfare payment will always take...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (7 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: As of 31st January 2024, the number of apprentices waiting 0-6 months is 2,887 at phase 2, 1,233 at phase 4 and 1,030 at phase 6. This is a total of 5,150 across the three phases. It is expected apprentices wait up to six months for their apprenticeship training. Also as of 31st January 2024, the number of apprentices waiting more than 6 months is 3,622 at phase 2, 100 at phase 4 and 95 at...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (7 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: The main support available to assist students with the cost of attending higher education is the Student Grant Scheme. Under the Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to eligible students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. The decision...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Official Travel (7 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: The details sought by the Deputy are as follows: Year Purpose Location Dates #Days Travel and Accommodation Costs 2021 OECD Paris, France 25 November 1 Day €76.00 COMPET Council Meeting Brussels 26 November 1 Day ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (7 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: The regularisation of the role of adult education tutors in Education and Training Boards is a priority for me and my Department. As the Deputy will be aware, a proposal issued to staff representatives last year to establish a new grade of adult educator, with a standardised pay scale aligned with the Youthreach resource person scale. This grade will apply to tutors employed in ETBs to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (7 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: The procurement, purchase and rent of Government offices is the responsibility of Property Management Services in the Office of Public Works, which acts as an agent for all Government Departments and offices. The number, terms and cost of the leases are a matter for the OPW. I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department was established in August 2020 and has occupied existing State-owned...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Costs (7 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 589 and 590 together. My Department is committed to working closely with the Department of Health and its agencies to ensure that the conditions are in place to support further growth in healthcare professions including increasing the supply of Medicine graduates.The number of domestic Medicine graduates and Medicine graduates from other EU countries is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (7 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: My Department has been in contact with the Deputy on this matter seeking additional information on the institute in question. I will be in a better position to respond once this is available.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (7 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has produced guidance documents on fire safety to assist persons in charge of premises to discharge their duties under the Fire Services Act, 1981. These can be found at: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/a19b0-responsibility-and-g uidance-documents/#. In addition, the design and construction of any new buildings, extensions or any...