Results 37,501-37,520 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Education and Training Provision (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: There were a couple of questions from the Deputy. He can speak about what the document is not referencing but I want to state in this House that it should not be taken in any way, shape or form as my view, the Department's view or the Government's view on the importance of the LTI programmes across the country and the role they have to play. I suggest to the Deputy that the most appropriate...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Education and Training Provision (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I am aware of it. I have not met them and I am not sure if they are looking to meet me. I would be delighted to meet them and am more than happy to set that up with the Deputy. As the Deputy rightly says, I will ensure that policy comes from both the bottom up and top down, for want of a better phrase. I will ensure that is reflected in my engagement with SOLAS, the ETBs and my...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Ó Murchú for the question. The Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 aims to ensure the apprenticeship system will contribute to meeting Ireland's skills and human capital requirements by delivering on a target of 10,000 apprenticeship registrations per annum by 2025. Among the 62 apprenticeships currently available at levels 5 to 10 of the national framework of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: There are two specific answers. The expert group on future skills needs falls under the remit of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and SOLAS is an agency of my Department that looks at labour bulletins and where skills shortages exist and which has a responsibility for meeting those skills shortages. I will take those two specific issues because we have figures for them....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I might need an hour and a half to reply to all of that.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: The DkIT cross-party Oireachtas Members meeting must happen and I put it on the record of the House that it will get under way quickly. The transcript will act as an aide-memoireon that. On the question of students coming from Ukraine and my Department's responsibility in that regard, the Deputy raises an important point. My Department's responsibilities will largely arise in four areas....

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

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Gould for the question. I should first say that my Department allocates specific funding for research through Science Foundation Ireland, SFI, the Irish Research Council, IRC, and the Higher Education Authority, HEA. In 2021, SFI and the IRC spent €257 million on targeted research funding. Higher education institutions also fund research from...

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

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy and acknowledge his passion in this area. Just to be really clear, I see huge benefit in citizen science. The Deputy will also appreciate and would think it appropriate that when it comes to deciding scientific and research projects to be funded, it is important that there are criteria that are independent of me. That is the way we have funded science and research in...

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

Simon Harris: It sounds like a very interesting concept that the Deputy has. The SFI Discover programme is genuinely the route where I would suggest citizen science opportunities may exist for community groups. In the Deputy's own county of Cork for example there is a project being funded by SFI Discover called Rebel Yeast. It is an immersive citizen science project where volunteer scientists are...

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

Simon Harris: Under the national development plan published last October, the Government has committed to a significant and much needed step-up in investment in further education and training, FET, infrastructure, including the realisation of what we call FET Colleges of the Future and expansion of apprenticeship delivery. In the context of this commitment, I was very pleased to announce in...

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

Simon Harris: I hear clearly what the Deputy is saying in regard to Ballyhaunis and the importance of that project for County Mayo. It certainly is the case that these funding calls are open to all ETBs. More than that, I expect all ETBs to come forward with projects. I want to be able to fund €430 million of capital expenditure across further and higher education between now and 2024, 45% of...

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

Simon Harris: I certainly will take an interest in Ballyhaunis and would be delighted to visit the town with Deputy Calleary. Between the work we are doing in terms of the ETBs, capital funding and the Atlantic Technological University coming into being at the start of April, it is an exciting time for further and higher education in the north west, including Mayo. I look forward to working with the...

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

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for his question. I acknowledge that HECA has played a very constructive role in its engagement with my Department since its foundation, particularly during the Covid pandemic. Representatives of the association sat on the Covid steering committee and there has been no difference between publicly-funded and privately-funded institutions in terms of the public health-led...

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

Simon Harris: I assure the Deputy that I hold HECA in high esteem. Its representatives are very good to engage with, which we do on a whole range of issues. I have had a number of meetings with them and will continue to engage. In order to take this forward, perhaps the Deputy and-or HECA would formally communicate with my Department and me on the matter. In that way, we will be able to come back to...

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

Simon Harris: A key goal for my Department is to enhance the profile and visibility of further education and training (FET) and apprenticeship options.  The developments introduced to the CAO website allow school leavers explore all options across the third level system.  It is very important to help and encourage students to identify what education and training options best meet their...

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

Simon Harris: Since the safe-reopening of the third level sector, I have been delighted to visit almost all of the Universities, including two Universities in Northern Ireland. The list of universities visited is presented in tabular format below. Date Visited University 2022 02.03.22 Trinity College Dublin ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Oideachas trí Ghaeilge (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: Geallaim go gcomhlíonfaidh an córas breisoideachais agus ardoideachais an t-éileamh atá ann le soláthar a dhéanamh trí mheán na Gaeilge. Ní feasach dom pleananna a bheith ann faoi láthair chun foras a bhunú de réir mar atá molta ag an Teachta. San earnáil Breisoideachais agus Oiliúna, tá soláthar...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: Last November, I was delighted to approve in principle the incorporation of St Angela’s College into the new Atlantic Technological University, which will be designated on 1 April this year.  While incorporation will ultimately be a matter for the new TU’s governing body upon establishment, the plans represent a very significant and positive development for the students and...

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

Simon Harris: I have not been made aware of any plans to develop a campus on the north side of Cork city. However, my Department is willing to work collaboratively with higher education institutions on the development of capital projects in line with their established masterplans.  It is a priority for my Department to support higher education institutions and Education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Cross-Border Co-operation (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I am committed to the promotion and enhancement of a collaboration on a North-South basis, which allows Further Education and Training Providers to strengthen relationships in areas of mutual interest.  Officials in my Department are working very closely with their counterparts in  Department of the Economy in Northern Ireland on the development of a proposal to address skills...