Results 4,181-4,200 of 46,260 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Budget 2024 (19 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: I am once again providing a significant package of measures to support students. We acknowledge that cost is a barrier to education and we’re continuing to break down that barrier and make further and higher education more accessible for more people. For the second year in a row, I have reduced the student contribution fee by €1,000 for undergraduate students eligible for free...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (19 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: In recognition of the need to stimulate supply of student accommodation, the Government has supported my Department to develop policy responses to stimulate the development of new and additional student accommodation for public higher education institutions. In November 2022, Government approved investment of €1 million in 2023/2024 to assist our Technological Universities to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (19 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for her question. The Deputy will be aware that Cavan Monaghan ETBs proposal for Cavan Town under the College of the Future Major Projects fund was successful at the first stage of the assessment process. This proposal has moved to the next stage of development, which involves the development of a preliminary business case which is a fundamental part of the public spending...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (19 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: All higher education institutions, continue to support their students to find accommodation in the private rental sector through, for example, the encouragement of room rental or ‘student digs’ in family homes. This summer I supported an advertising campaign which ran on radio, social media and national press. Central to the messaging is the ability to avail of tax relief under...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (19 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department is strongly committed to supporting the health of the population through the provision of graduates with the key competencies and skills to be effective in the health workforce, and support a range of clinical teams in our health services. My officials are actively engaging with the Department of Health on determining the longer term skills needs of the healthcare services,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (19 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: The expansion of Ireland’s electric vehicle fleet is a key objective in the Climate Action Plan 2023. We have an ambitious target of 30% of our private car fleet having made the switch to electric vehicles by 2030. This development will result in significant new skills requirements. The Expert Group for Future Skills Needs has estimated that the electrification of our private car fleet...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Cúrsaí Gaeilge (19 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: Tá ról ríthábhachtach ag an gcóras ardoideachais i gcur chun cinn na Gaeilge, le raon leathan cúrsaí ar fáil trí Ghaeilge. Léiríonn staitisticí tuairisceáin an HEA don bhliain acadúil seo caite 97 cúrsa a thairgeann Gaeilge mar mhórábhar nó mar mhionábhar, lena n-áirítear iad siúd a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Staff (19 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: Since the establishment of this Department, we have made a number of changes to help PhD researchers. The first was to increase the Irish Research Council stipend to match that of Science Foundation Ireland. Then, in Budget 2023, I was pleased to be able to increase the stipend to €19,000 for 2023 for PhD students currently supported by Science Foundation Ireland and the Irish Research...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Staff (19 Oct 2023)

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 reflects the objective, under the dedicated Talent Pillar of Impact 2030, Ireland’s national research and innovation strategy, for a consistent research student experience across funders, institutions and research disciplines. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Surveys (19 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: I firmly believe that learners should be enabled to flourish, personally and professionally, during their studies and afterwards. Achievement of this vision requires hearing from learners themselves, a need first set out in the National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030 which recommended that institutions establish student feedback mechanisms. The Student Survey collects information...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (19 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: I am actively prioritising the supply and affordability of student accommodation, in recognition of the challenges our students are facing. Through “Housing for All”, the Government has approved development of policy and funding to increase the supply of student accommodation. I have to date secured Government approval of up to €61m in funding to unlock the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (19 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: The National Development Plan (NDP) published in 2021 provided clarity on Departmental capital ceilings for the period 2022 – 2025. A dedicated capital envelope was established for the Further Education and Training (FET) sector, amounting to €300m over the decade 2018-2027. Available funding has increased from €5.5 million in 2018 to €17.5 million in 2020 and a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Staff (19 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 99, 106, 111 and 145 together. In November 2022, I commissioned an independent National Review of State Supports for PhD Researchers; the first time that this issue has been considered holistically in this manner. In their first report, published in June, the Co-Chairs recommended an increase towards an optimum stipend level of €25,000,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (19 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: In February 2022, my Department launched the Strategic Infrastructure Upgrade Fund (SIUF), to support smaller-scale investments in existing FET infrastructure, ensuring that works are progressed within the context of an overall strategic plan for the building and aligned with FET College of the Future principles. ETBs were invited to submit up to two priority proposals under the scheme. Cork...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (19 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy may know, this is something my Department has been examining over a number of years and we have taken a number of steps to respond to the cost of Graduate Entry Medicine. For example, the State subsidy to Higher Education Institutions towards the cost of provision for EU student places has increased. In the academic year 21/22, the state contribution was €11,950 per...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (19 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: In November last year, I indicated in Dáil Éireann that my Department will prepare a proposal for Government to consider joining CERN. Since then, Officials from my Department have been working with CERN to prepare an application for Ireland's associate membership of CERN. I have significant progress to announce as last week funding for CERN associate membership was included in my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (19 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department and I are actively working to address the supply of affordable student accommodation through the development of a number of Government supported policy responses as outlined under Housing for All. As the Deputy is aware, SETU Waterford campus is the only on-campus provision of purpose built student accommodation in the Technological University (TU) sector, providing 426...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (19 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: I am assuming that the Deputy is referring to Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM). Graduate entry courses require applicants to hold a level 8 qualification prior to entry and completion of a graduate entry medicine degree confers a further level 8 qualification. The Student Grant Scheme provides funding support for eligible first time undergraduate students. Students pursuing a second level 8...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (19 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: Ireland’s goals in relation to digital skills were designed in line with the European Digital Decade, and are set out in our Harnessing Digital Strategy. I am pleased to say we are not only meeting but exceeding our targets. In the first instance we are excelling in the provision of highly skilled ICT graduates to support a digitised economy and maintain Ireland’s...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Programme for Government (19 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: Lifelong Learning could not be more important as we leverage continued alterations in how we live and work in the face of megatrends such as digitisation and the green transition for a sustainable economy. This focus is underpinned by the OECD Report on Ireland's Skills Strategy published on 9 May this year. That report highlighted the need for increased focus on short, flexible and...