Results 35,301-35,320 of 46,522 for speaker:Simon Harris

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Research and Development (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: That is something about which I am more than satisfied, given the ingenuity of the Irish people, the level of educational attainment in this country and our track record of working with industry and data on where the future skills needs and jobs will be. As a country that looks outward at a time when others choose to look inward, and wants to build new links and do more together, Ireland is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Third Level Fees (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy O'Rourke for his question. I know he is interested in all these areas. In considering this issue, it is important to note that the State currently provides very substantial financial support to undergraduate students in higher education towards the cost of their studies. I have just announced a review of Student Universal Support Ireland, SUSI, this week. Currently in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Third Level Fees (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: That is a very valid question. Senior officials in my Department engage on a very regular basis - in fact it is every Friday morning - with representative bodies of the universities, the institute of technology sector, the Union of Students in Ireland and further education and training providers. I often attend as well. We continue to monitor and tease out issues in real time and consider...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Third Level Fees (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: I think Deputy O'Rourke is a scientist so I will bow to his knowledge on that. I am sorry, I did not realise Deputy Conway-Walsh wished to speak.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Third Level Fees (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: I am certainly not ruling that out. I think we are right to keep a watching brief on all of those issues. One figure that I do have, which is perhaps in some way indicative of the financial impact of Covid on economic well-being, is the SUSI figures. They are provisional at the moment. From memory, I think approximately 72,500 people were awarded a SUSI grant last year and the total is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Third Level Costs (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: I am pleased the Deputy mentioned medical graduates because I would not want to miss the Irish Medical Organisation too much due to the change in my brief. I am looking forward to meeting it in the new year on medical graduate training in Ireland. We need to have an important conversation about how we support medical students in this country. I look forward to coming back to the Deputy on...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Third Level Costs (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy. I doubt she means it like this but with my Department or the Government, there was no attempt to mislead anybody. I remember getting a letter from the deputy chief medical officer on the Friday telling us we needed to bring in additional precautions, and this effectively moved much college activity online. That decision was made and published on that Friday, so it was...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Third Level Costs (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: We always engage but we do not make commitments I cannot stand over. The legal position with regard to the autonomy of our universities and the setting of postgraduate fees is a statement of fact. I always welcome the opportunity to engage, hear views and see how we can support people, and this is important. We have put in place a number of supports this year for students at undergraduate...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Technological Universities (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Burke, again not just for the question but for his very significant and sustained support for this project and his interest in the developments in higher education in the Cork area. We have had many conversations on this and I look forward to continuing to work with him on this and visiting Cork Institute of Technology, which will then be Munster technological university after...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Technological Universities (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: The Deputy has mentioned the work done to bring these institutions together and I was thinking that my political epitaph might be that I brought Cork and Kerry together. It is significant and this is a very important step. I thank the people who have been working at this for years in Cork and Kerry. I thank my predecessor, former Deputy and Minister of State, Ms Mary Mitchell O'Connor, and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Technological Universities (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: I echo Deputy Burke's comment that the establishment of MTU is the beginning of the journey. There will be expansion and additionality as the university grows. Deputy Ó Murchú is entirely right. When one goes to the dance but does not pick a partner and everyone is partnered off, one is left alone. We have two institutes of technology, both of which are excellent, namely DkIT...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Student Universal Support Ireland (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: During the course of 2020, SUSI has experienced, not unexpectedly, an increase in the number of applications for grant assistance as well as the number of students seeking a review, understandably, based on the change of circumstances provision in the scheme. This is primarily due to the negative impact that Covid-19 has had on the tenure of employment and income levels. For this reason I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Student Universal Support Ireland (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: Since taking up office I have made three changes to SUSI. The first was the €250 payment. The second was the change to postgraduate supports, both to the level of grant and the level of income allowed. The third, and perhaps most important, was the change to the student support scheme for people in asylum. Only five people in asylum were able to access financial support last year...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Student Universal Support Ireland (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: I agree that not everybody can pack their bags and head off to college for four years, for a variety of reasons. That is not the way people learn in Ireland now and that is not the way we live in many ways and the system needs to be more flexible. I accept the Deputy's point that part-time rather than full-time learning is a much more viable option for some people and part-time students are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Student Universal Support Ireland (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: I will make sure that this is considered as a core component. I note that some universities are now making a real effort to become autism friendly. We have some very bright students and very bright people in our country but they are not the challenge. Sometimes it is the institutions that are the challenge; they need to be more flexible and understanding of how people with autism learn...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Third Level Fees (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: The Deputy will appreciate the sensitivity of this time. Obviously, we will need to see the final outcome of negotiations on an arrangement between the UK and the European Union. I have met the UK universities minister and the Northern Ireland Minister for the Economy, who has responsibility for higher education. I will also be virtually attending a meeting of the North-South Ministerial...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: The principal support provided by the Department in financial terms is the Student Grant Scheme. Under 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 student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: In recognition of the challenges facing full time third level students the Government has approved once off funding of €50m to provide additional financial assistance in this academic year. The funding was provided in Budget 2021, in recognition of the exceptional situation they have experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Financial assistance will be provided to all EU...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: My Department’s Statement of Strategy which is due to be published in the New Year will establish a framework for progress in the further and higher education and research sectors for the next three years. This offers a very timely opportunity to set out the task of bridgeing the gap between education and the economy and helping future proof our economy and our people to face the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: Under the Haddington Road Agreement an Expert Group on Fixed-Term and Part-Time Employment in Lecturing in third Level Education in Ireland was established to assist in addressing concerns raised about precarious employment by Union representatives. In May 2016 the Chairperson of the Expert Group, Mr. Michael Cush S.C., published his report. The Department issued directions to the sector on...