Results 9,721-9,740 of 46,456 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research and Development (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: My department is currently developing a new National Research and Innovation Strategy which is expected to be completed later this year. We acknowledge the opportunity to recognise the R&I system as a resource to provide evidence-based research to address key national policy questions. This is an issue which has gained momentum in the last number of years and consideration needs to be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: I understand that this is a very difficult time for students seeking to secure accommodation. The Government recognises this as a critical issue. Fundamentally, the challenge is one of supply. Approximately 40% of students who rent accommodation do so in purpose built student accommodation, with 60% in the wider private rental market. Accommodation shortages in the private rental market,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: The principal support provided by my Department in financial terms is the Student Grant Scheme. Under the terms of the Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to 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 on eligibility for a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: I have set out a commitment to build on the existing CAO process to ensure that there is greater visibility of the full range of options across further education and training (FET) and apprenticeship. This approach would enable school leavers to consider FET and apprenticeship options alongside HE choices at CAO decision time. Work is underway across SOLAS, ETBI, ETBs and the CAO to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Institutes of Technology (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: My Department is aware of the need for investment in campus upgrade works on the WIT main campus. In 2019 emergency funding of €291,000 was allocated to address immediate issues. WIT was also allocated €3.7 million in Devolved Capital Grant funding over the last two years. This grant allows WIT the flexibility to prioritise funding to support minor capital works,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: My Department is committed to supporting the 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, including those supporting people with disabilities. The National Health and Social Care Professions Office in the HSE have advised me that their Psychology Project...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: The purpose of the Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD) is to assist further and higher education institutions in ensuring students with disabilities have the necessary assistance and equipment to enable them access, fully participate in and successfully complete their chosen course of study. The FSD is one of the main funding sources supporting participation by students with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Adult Education Provision (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 65, 72 and 163 together. I was delighted to launch the Adult Literacy for Life Strategy on International Literacy Day, 8th September. This is a 10 year adult literacy, numeracy and digital literacy strategy which takes a whole of Government action orientated approach. It is underpinned by one simple vision, to create an Ireland where every adult has the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: The Student Grant Scheme is a critical financial support for students participating in further and higher education. As in any statutory scheme, a core principle of the scheme is that there is consistency of approach and an equitable treatment for applicants as part of the means assessment process. All applications are assessed nationally with reference to the terms and conditions of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: In recognition of the particular circumstances faced by leaving certificate students in 2021, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science worked with the HEA and the Higher Education Institutions to identify where additional places could be provided in the higher education system. As a result of this, together with the additional places created under the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: The Student Grant Scheme, administered by SUSI, provides grant assistance to students pursuing 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. It assists over 70,000 students annually to access third level education. The student grant is an absolutely...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: Under the Department’s Free Fees Initiative (FFI), the Exchequer provides funding toward the tuition fee costs of eligible undergraduate higher education students. All students eligible for the scheme receive state support whereby the Exchequer pays the cost of tuition fees exclusive of the student contribution. The student contribution applies annually to all FFI eligible students...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Staff (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: Third-level institutions have autonomy in relation to human resource policies, subject to the requirement to comply with employment legislation. Employers in the higher education sector are also required to operate in accordance with the provisions of national industrial relations agreements and any individuals who have issues of concern have a variety of dispute resolution options open to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: It is a priority for my Department to support higher education institutions (HEIs) in their critical role as drivers of social and economic development in their regions. Funding for capital works is generally distributed through the HEA and SOLAS to higher education institutions and ETBs in the form of project-specific grants or devolved grant type funding. Specific projects which are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board (MSLETB) is currently working with SOLAS on the establishment of Mayo College of Further Education and Training. Included in this is a proposal from the ETB to redevelop the facilities and buildings at the address referred to by the Deputy. SOLAS, in conjunction with my Department, is currently in the process of developing a capital...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: Significant additional Funding has been made available to support students under recent budgets and through the Return to Education Packages for 2020 and 2021. The principal support provided by my Department in financial terms is the Student Grant Scheme. The budgetary provision for the Student Grant Scheme in 2021 is €364.5m. The Student Grant Scheme provides grant assistance to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: The functions of a technological university (TU) are set out in section 9 of the Technological Universities Act 2018. It is a matter for the governing body of the new Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest as an autonomous higher education institution as to how specifically the TU fulfils those functions including the roles played by or at particular campuses of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research and Development (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: The development of a new national strategy for research and innovation (R&I) is a key commitment in the Government’s Economic Recovery Plan 2021, which sets out the “dual ambition of placing research, development and innovation at the heart of addressing Ireland’s economic and societal challenges, and building capacity and capability across the research and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: My Department is committed to playing its part in moving towards a more sustainable economy and future and to developing the pipeline of green skills to support future proofing. The National Recovery and Resilience Plan will provide significant investment to advance the green transition. The SOLAS Green Skills Action programme will provide training at further education level to address...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: I’m acutely aware of the challenges facing students in securing accommodation this year, and my Department and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage recognises this as a critical issue and are working closely together to address these issues. Approximately 40% of students who rent accommodation do so in purpose built student accommodation, with 60% in the wider...