Results 4,721-4,740 of 46,260 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (1 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: The Apprenticeship Jobs Portal (www.apprenticeshipjobs.ie) was launched in April 2019 to enhance the visibility and accessibility of apprentice job vacancies and to assist small companies to advertise apprentice vacancies to a wide audience. Although not a matching system the platform has been building traction since its launch. This contributed to over 350,000 users of www.apprenticeship.ie...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (1 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: The Department distributes recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for disbursement directly to the HEA's designated higher education institutions. The HEA distributes this funding as a block grant to the institutions. As autonomous bodies, the internal allocation of this funding, including expenditure on Irish-language education initiatives, falls to the individual...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (1 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: The OECD review of academic career structures, academic contracts and senior management and leadership structures in Irish technological universities (TUs) was published on 16 December 2022 following the Cabinet's noting of the insights provided by the OECD in setting out the strengths and differences evident between Irish TUs and comparator institutions internationally by Cabinet. Both...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (1 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: Late last year, I was very happy to announce that Galway Roscommon ETB’s (GRETB) strategic proposal to develop a Further Education College in Galway city was successful at the first stage of the assessment process under the FET College of the Future Major Projects Fund. The proposal put forward by GRETB relates to the development of Mervue Training Centre which would provide a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions (1 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: It is a priority of my Department to expand pathways into and within tertiary education, supporting leaners to get to where they want to go according to a learning route that is well-suited to their needs. There are now so many routes for learners to realise their chosen career and educational goals. For anyone who doesn’t gain access to their course of choice immediately, there is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (1 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: Until recently there has been a long-standing legislative impediment to farming apprenticeships under the Industrial Training Act, 1967, wherein it was stated that the development of apprenticeship programmes in “an activity of agriculture, horticulture or fishing which is an activity of primary production, or any activity of a professional occupation” was prohibited. I am...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (1 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: Apprenticeships are employer-led demand-driven programmes that develop the skills of an apprentice in order to meet the labour market needs. The number of new apprenticeship registrations is, therefore, primarily determined by the level of recruitment of apprentices by employers. The Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025sets a target of 10,000 apprentice registrations per annum by 2025....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (1 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department is strongly committed to supporting the health and welfare 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. Healthcare programmes are by their nature complex in delivery. The availability of appropriate placements and placement supports...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (1 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy is aware, the HEA ran an Expression of Interest process to identify options to build capacity in Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, as well as Medicine, Nursing and Dentistry. I have received the report from the HEA on this process, and am currently reviewing it in conjunction with my Cabinet colleagues the Minister for Health and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (1 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: Since 2021, the Department has disbursed just over €96m in funding for the 2021/22 and 2022/23 academic years under the Devolved Capital Grant to Education and Training Boards (ETBs) and eligible higher education institutions. The Devolved Capital Grant is allocated in accordance with a model based primarily on student numbers, weighted by course type and mode of study. In April...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (1 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: I have not been made aware of any plans to develop a new campus on the north side of Cork city. However, my Department is willing to work collaboratively with all higher education institutions and Education Training Boards with the HEA and SOLAS on the development of capital projects in line with their established masterplans. My Department is currently supporting a number of key ongoing...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (1 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 131 and 135 together. I am acutely conscious of the challenges facing students and the need for the progressive implementation of measures to address cost as a barrier to education. I also recognise that costs are not limited to tuition fees or other registration fees payable by students. Students have real cost of living challenges such as fuel, food...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (1 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: The improvement to the student grant scheme has been a priority for me since taking up my Ministerial appointment and I have made many improvements benefitting thousands of students. Over the course of the past three Budgets, I have delivered a range of enhancements to the Student Grant Scheme to put more money into the pockets of students and their families including a significant package...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (1 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: Higher education institutions (HEIs) are autonomous bodies and are responsible for their own day-to-day management and operational affairs, including course provision relating to third level access programmes that are specific to each HEI. The HEA is responsible for collecting, analysing and disseminating student and graduate enrolment data from higher education institutions (HEI) but...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (1 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department is engaging closely with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on a number of actions in the Housing for All action plan. My Department is also represented on the DHLGH’s Cost Rental Viability Measure working group. This close engagement helps to ensure there is a collaborative approach to housing and student accommodation. Our Departments are also...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (1 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: A key commitment of the ‘Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025’ is to grow the number of apprenticeship registrations across the public service, including local authorities, to reach 750 annual registrations by 2025. This represents in excess of a seven-fold increase on 2020 registrations and will support a long-term goal of 7% of the apprentice population being employed by...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (1 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: I am actively working to address the supply of student accommodation. Increasing costs of construction and financing are impacting on viability, and as a result a number of Universities had to pause their projects. In responding to these challenges, on 29 November 2022, Government approved development of both short and medium term policy responses to activate supply. These landmark...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (1 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: A core objective of the tertiary system is to equip learners with the knowledge and skills to adapt to living and working sustainably, whether that is in Ireland or abroad. The International Education strategy recognises the value of both inbound and outbound mobility, providing opportunities for learners to broaden their experience and strengthen global linkages for Ireland. Of the 2021...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (1 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department is strongly committed to supporting the health and wellbeing 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. As the Deputy is aware, Higher Education Institutions are autonomous institutions and therefore it is a matter for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (1 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science does not place a quota on the number of places on these type of courses as offered by higher education institutions, and as such the number of places provided each year is determined by the institutions themselves in line with their capacity. Higher Education Institutions are autonomous bodies within the meaning...