Results 37,301-37,320 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Grant Payments (8 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: Of course, my Department does not refuse people the SUSI grant; my Department sets the criteria under which people may apply, as is the case with any Government grant. I acknowledge the very serious issue that the Deputy and his office have consistently highlighted in engagements with my office on the need to reform and overhaul the SUSI grant system. I accept that the system is rigid. I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Grant Payments (8 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: The Deputy is talking about a specific case, as is his right. I do not have the information available to me on a case. Obviously, appeal mechanisms are available. A system that does not understand the needs is a very significant concern. I acknowledge that and I am happy to engage with the Deputy on this specific case. This is a scheme based on income thresholds. It is there to support...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Grant Payments (8 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: I am always happy to be accountable and I am very well aware of my role in this House. I am also conscious that the Deputy's supplementary contribution is out of order but, to be helpful, I am happy to answer. The Freedom of Information Act, as the Deputy will be well aware, should not in any way be open to political interference in the form of any Government Minister deciding what should...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Policies (8 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: I must admit, I am aware of it only because the Deputy has kindly brought it to my attention, for which I thank him. I have asked my officials to provide me with a viewpoint on it in the context of our overall work on the importance of mathematics and of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, STEM, in general and the needs of our students, our economy and our society. I will...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Policies (8 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: I will come back to the Deputy on that. I thank him for bringing it to my attention. The Deputy highlights an extremely important issue. We talk about how to increase the number of STEM graduates. That is important and we have made considerable progress on it. We often talk about that just in the context of the student, which is important, but we do not often talk about it in the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Further and Higher Education (8 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: The challenge to deliver suitably qualified graduates to meet the demands of the public and private sectors is a fundamental focus for my Department. It needs to be and is a fundamental focus for the Government and this House, I am quite sure, across the entire skills system, including tertiary. I often say to students when I meet leaving certificate classes that everybody in the Dáil...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Further and Higher Education (8 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: To respond to Deputy Durkan, the short answer is "Yes". I want to work with the tourism and hospitality sector. We have already shown that when we worked with the Irish Hotels Federation to put in place a range of upskilling and reskilling programmes. Its members wanted to use the difficult times of the Covid restrictions when they were not able to open their premises to provide their...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (8 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: The Student Assistance Fund is a critical support which is allocated by my Department to higher education institutions. The fund has a dual focus. It is designed to support students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds with ongoing needs for financial support. It also to provide emergency financial assistance for other students. Students can apply for supports from this fund...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions (8 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: Ireland has one of the most highly education populations in the world, with almost two thirds of students progressing to higher education within five years of completing their secondary education. The majority of CAO offers are for a first preference course, and about 80% of applicants receive at least one offer. Last year more applicants than ever before were offered and accepted a place in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Caiteachas Ranna (8 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: Déantar foráil i mbuiséad mo Roinne le haghaidh: i) tuarastail agus pinsin oibrithe na hearnála poiblí san ardoideachas, sa bhreisoideachas agus sna hearnála taighde, ii) costais reatha ó lá go lá agus riachtanais infheistíochta caipitil na n-institiúidí ardoideachais agus breisoideachais, iii) taighde Éireannach lena...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (8 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: I will shortly be bringing proposals for a future funding and reform framework to Government, in response to the report on future sustainability of further and higher education and also the review of the student grant scheme. I am very clear that, from a policy perspective, addressing the sustainability of the higher education system must proceed in tandem with measures which address the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (8 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: I am very conscious of the challenges faced by students in relation to student accommodation, and my Department and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage are working closely together to address these issues. The Government has taken measures to address affordability and rent increases. Rent increases in student accommodation are capped under the Rent Pressure Zones....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (8 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: Tackling sexual violence and harassment in our tertiary education system is, and will remain, a key policy focus for me and my Department. The Programme for Government 2020 made a number of commitments in relation to tackling sexual harassment in higher education. These include the implementation of the recommendations of the Framework for Consent in Higher Education Institutions Report. It...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Adult Education Provision (8 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: The Adult Literacy for Life (ALL) Strategy sets out a cross-government, cross-economy and cross-society approach to achieve the vision of an Ireland where every adult has the necessary literacy, numeracy and digital literacy to engage in society and realise their potential. During development and going forward, the ALL strategy closely references complementary initiatives across relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (8 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: I’m very aware of the challenges that have been faced by this year’s Leaving Certificate students, and I am working to ensure that students have access to a wider range of options across the third level education system. This means not just higher education options but those in further education and apprenticeships also. My officials are engaging with the higher education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (8 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: Officials in my Department have been undertaking am examination of the issues in relation to academic support activities of PhD students. This has been done in collaboration with the Irish Universities Association and Technological Higher Education Association and the National Advisory Forum for Ireland’s Framework for Doctoral Education. This work includes looking at...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Strategies (8 Feb 2022)

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 innovation...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (8 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: It is my view that any reform of the Leaving Certificate must be considered in the broader context of Senior Cycle Reform – we must consider the programme, subjects, skills and objectives in the round, not just the state examinations. We must reflect on how to ensure that all students are prepared to pursue their future paths, be they academic or vocational. Although the Leaving...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (8 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 143 together. My objective as Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, to ensure that there is access into either further or higher education for each person who wishes to pursue educational options at third-level. There is a diverse range of pathways in further and higher education that meet both individual and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Schemes (8 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: I am happy to give an update on the review of the Student Grant Scheme. This was a very important commitment in the Programme for Government, which will help shape decision-making on how we support students over the years to come. Following a procurement process, the review was undertaken by Indecon Economic Consultants, under the guidance of a steering group which included student and...