Results 37,461-37,480 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Disability Services (1 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 559, 560 and 561 together. The staff required by a children's disability network team (CDNT) require a wide range of expertise in a number of clinical and other areas including, but not limited to physiotherapy, psychology, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, social work and community nursing. Third level graduates from the relevant therapy...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (1 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: Munster Technological University (MTU) was established on 1 January 2021 together with the apppointment of  a first governing body and first president Professor Maggie Cusack.  In accordance with the Technological Universities Act 2018 the governing body expanded its membership in the first six months though internal staff elections, student member nominations and an external...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Gender Equality (1 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: Inclusion is one of the six strategic goals of my Department’s Statement of Strategy. Within this goal my Department is championing equality by: providing leadership; advocating equality and respect for all; supporting inclusive learning; working with research environments; promoting female leadership in academia and research; eliminating harassment; and promoting the principle of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (1 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: Physiotherapy graduate data for the three latest years available - 2018, 2019 and 2020 - is available in the table below. The data given is for courses allowing qualification as a physiotherapist, and does not include graduates from postgraduate courses undertaken by existing physiotherapists. This data is taken from the HEA's Student Records System (SRS) HEI Course Level...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (1 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: The number of dental graduates for the three most recent years available - 2018, 2019 and 2020 - are available in the table below. These figures are taken from the HEA's Student Records System (SRS). Higher Education Institution 2018 2019 2020 Trinity College Dublin 40 45 42 University College Cork ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Correspondence (1 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I have not brought any policy instructions or policy documents to the attention of An Bord Pleanála in my role as Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (1 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: The Deputy will be aware that a commitment to a review and update of Ireland’s previous international education strategy, Irish Educated Globally Connected, was contained in the Programme for Government. In advance of drafting a new strategy, it was decided to commission an independent review of the preceding one. Indecon Economic Consultants, based on detailed engagements with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Reform (1 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) is the national Agency with responsibility for the external quality assurance of further and higher education and training in Ireland.         0; QQI’s role in relation to the recognition of prior learning (RPL), as set out in Section 56 of the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions (1 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: The Deputy will be aware that my Department made a commitment in the White Paper to end Direct Provision that  "International Protection applicants who are currently in the system and who are resident in Ireland for 3 years will be facilitated in accessing third-level education by means of their eligibility for support under the Student Support Scheme run by DFHERIS, which provides a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (2 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: In 2021, a record 8,607 new apprentices were registered in the apprenticeship system. This is an increase of over 38% in comparison to 2020. 6,955 registrations were in craft apprenticeships, and largely in the construction sector. There were 1,652 registrations on the newer, post-2016 programmes. At the end of 2021, the overall apprentice population was 24,212. Regarding the deputy’s...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (2 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I am very conscious of the challenges faced by students seeking to access affordable student accommodation. Fundamentally the underlying issue is one of supply and there is a need to increase the supply of all types of accommodation including student accommodation. That is why Government launched Housing for All led by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage which sets...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (2 Mar 2022)

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 eligibility criteria for student...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Further and Higher Education (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I want to say at the outset, and perhaps we will have time to get into it during Question Time, that I look forward to working with all Members of the House and all spokespersons on a number of the issues we will have to address arising from the Ukrainian situation, in terms of supporting students including those who are already here. I know this is an issue on which Deputy Conway-Walsh and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Further and Higher Education (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I take the point the Deputy makes and the spirit in which she makes it. I certainly want to work with the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. I assure Deputy Conway-Walsh that the new funding and reform framework will be provided to the Oireachtas committee once the Cabinet has considered the matter. It will be published...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Further and Higher Education (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I am following with interest, and I believe there is value in, the work the committee is doing. Perhaps not everybody in the sector will agree with the following but let me be very clear on my position. This will not be new money for old rope. It will have to be accompanied by a reform agenda. To be very clear to the sector, I accept there is an issue with core funding that needs to be...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Further and Higher Education (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Ó Ríordáin for the question. If we were debating this a couple of months ago the first priority we would have had was making sure we could get the college campuses reopened and get students back on campus in a safe way. We discussed this at great length in the House. I thank everybody who worked extraordinarily hard to do this, including trade unions, student...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Further and Higher Education (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: The short answer is "Yes". We should and will do that. I agree with Deputy Ó Ríordáin in this regard. I believe he will also agree with me that staff in our third level institutions, and across the public sector, changed their work practices and how they worked overnight. They did so in an emergency scenario. They showed great flexibility and I really respect and thank...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Further and Higher Education (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: Absolutely. I acknowledge the work of the Deputy's colleague, Senator Hoey, who I happened to meet this evening. There is a lot we can do in this space. I am proud of the progress we have made across the education sector, including in early years, primary and secondary education, with regard to being inclusive of people with additional needs. We have made some progress in the third level...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Reviews (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy very much. The honest answer to the last part of the question is that it will be a matter for the discussions on the Estimates. However, I take the point she makes about the need to ensure additional supports are brought in for September. It is right to say that what is announced in the budget will take effect from the calendar year 2023. I believe the Deputy is putting...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Reviews (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy. Of course, we did take measures in this House to benefit students for this academic year. We changed the law in respect of student renters not once, but twice, to make sure that students could not be asked to pay more than one month's rent in advance or a deposit worth more than one month's rent. That was a significant issue and a solution was sought by students' unions...