Results 4,541-4,560 of 46,260 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (27 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 805 to 807, inclusive, together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (27 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 808 to 813, inclusive, together. 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...

Apprenticeship and Further Education and Training: Statements (22 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: They are. That is what I have just acknowledged. I acknowledge this in the House because is not enough to identify problems in this place; we must also look at how best to fix them. I have asked my own Department to continue its consultation with the stakeholders. I have met the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and others in relation to this in order to examine the implications for...

Apprenticeship and Further Education and Training: Statements (22 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: At the outset, I apologise, as I will not be able to stay for all of the debate. The Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins, will be present for most of it. I will have to leave to attend a Cabinet committee. I welcome the opportunity to update the House on important issues regarding apprenticeships and further education and training, FET. I am pleased we have the opportunity to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (22 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: The bodies under the aegis of my Department are non commercial and do not fall under the scope of the Deputy’s query.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (22 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: Further to my original response on the 25thMay, I would like to assure the Deputy that work is on-going with partners who are seeking to arrive at a solution. The matter is being prioritised for resolution.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Reviews (22 Jun 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: Residency Permits (22 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 400 to 405, inclusive, together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residency Permits (22 Jun 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: Third Level Education (22 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: Under the terms of the Student Grant 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. In relation to support available for students studying abroad, the Student Grant Scheme provides...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Technological Universities Act 2018: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (21 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: Thank you. I will first comment briefly on the situation at St. Angela’s in Sligo, which is the subject of the first part of the meeting. I am pleased to introduce the draft order, the Technological Universities Act 2018 (Section 44F) (Appointed Day) Order 2023, to the committee. This draft order provides that the higher education institution known currently as St. Angela’s...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Technological Universities Act 2018: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (21 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Mairéad Farrell for her broad support on this issue. Being a Deputy from the west, I know she appreciates the regional importance of this issue as well. The benefits are many. First, I think it is a certainty, for a long number of years I think it is fair to say, that many in St. Angela's have felt they have been left in a degree of limbo-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Technological Universities Act 2018: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (21 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: -----as they wondered where that college would ultimately end up in the context of the changing landscape of higher education. Settling the question, if nothing else, is of benefit to staff and students. Second, from a critical mass perspective, the institution will now be joining a large entity and one that is fast becoming recognised as a superb technological university. This critical...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Technological Universities Act 2018: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (21 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: -----and I think the borrowing framework should become a part of that conversation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Issues in Higher and Further Education: Discussion (21 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: Unless the committee wishes it to be otherwise, I am going to be very brief because it has my opening statement and I would rather get into the back-and-forth exchange on the issues. Today, we published details of the expression of interest process in respect of the Higher Education Authority, HEA. This was a major body of work and everyone has worked so hard on getting us to this point. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Issues in Higher and Further Education: Discussion (21 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy. Her points on digs are fair and measured. It genuinely is a matter of balancing the imperative to maximise the accommodation available to students with ensuring students are safe and treated with respect and dignity. Renting a room is working for thousands of students every year. I hear that from students but I also know purely from the numbers that go through the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Issues in Higher and Further Education: Discussion (21 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: Every euro we put into student accommodation we expect to be returned in the form of below-market rents. Let us say we are funding 30% of a college's development. We then expect at least 30% of the beds to be provided and ring-fenced below market rent. We see in the data every year that student accommodation is oversubscribed, even with current market rates. I think Maynooth University...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Issues in Higher and Further Education: Discussion (21 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: We are finalising those arrangements at the moment. I can give the Deputy the information as soon as we have it. We know definitively that from the proportion we fund, we will get at least that proportion of beds back below market rent. We need to work out the actual level of the rent with the institutions and I will keep the Deputy informed on that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Issues in Higher and Further Education: Discussion (21 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: The answer is "Yes". Every university in Ireland needs to see the provision of student accommodation as a core part of its work. I can say that because it is not the State just saying it, as we are willing to get involved in part-funding it. In fairness to the technological universities, this is a new space for them. Institutes of technology, which the TUs were before, never built student...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Issues in Higher and Further Education: Discussion (21 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: I acknowledge the new president of UCD has been really proactive in this space and I thank her for that. We need to get to common design around student accommodation. I have spoken to students and student unions about this. They often tell me they are being asked to pay for facilities that have things in them they did not ask for. We are trying to get to a point of common design and are...