Results 37,621-37,640 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (22 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 717, 719 and 720 together. Craft apprenticeships account for 25 of the existing 64 apprenticeship programmes. Given the practical nature of off-the-job training for craft apprentices, the COVID-related shutdown of on-site learning activity over the last two years had a significant impact on the ability of apprentices to access off-the-job training. The other...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (22 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: The Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 aims to ensure that 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.  In 2021, a record 8,607 new apprentices were registered- an almost 40% increase on the figures from 2019, the last...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ukraine War (22 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I am aware of approximately 50 Irish students, who were studying Medicine and Dentistry in Ukraine and whose studies have been disrupted as a result of the invasion.  Officials from my Department have been in touch with them to establish certain baseline data including the status of their studies.   A key element of any process to facilitate the continuity of their studies will...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (22 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: It is not possible to definitively estimate the full year cost of restoring the SUSI grant scheme to pre-2011 levels. To put it in context, in 2010/11 there were 71,532 students who benefitted from grant support at a cost of €355m, whereas in 2020/21  there were 74,755 students in receipt of grant support at a cost of €363m. In the intervening years we have centralised...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Fuel Prices (22 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: The student grant is an absolutely critical support for the students who receive it. That is why, following taking up my Ministerial appointment, I initiated a Review of the Student Grant Scheme to see where improvements would be most effective. The importance of this Review has been underlined by the rise in the costs of living across society. This has impacted...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ukraine War (22 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: The Deputy will be aware that as many Ukrainian refugees arriving in Ireland traumatised, the Government's priority is to provide sanctuary and immediate supports such as food and housing.  Therefore, only limited data is gathered by the Irish Visa Authorities, and as such, there is no available data on the number of students arriving in Ireland.  However, through engagements...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ukraine War (22 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: My Department has been in contact with a number of Irish students, who were studying Medicine and Dentistry in Ukraine and whose studies have been disrupted as a result of the invasion.  I am working closely with the higher education sector to see what can be done to support them and facilitate the continuity of their studies. A key element of this process will be to understand the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Language Schools (22 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: Issues regarding overseas travel agencies have previously been brought to the attention of my Department. These agencies are privately owned and primarily operate in other jurisdictions arranging study and travel options for prospective International Higher Education (HE) and English language education (ELE) students to many countries including Ireland. These agencies act as intermediaries...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (22 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: Ireland has a developed national skills system across further and higher education and apprenticeship, lifelong learning and human capital development, under the framework of the National Skills Strategy. Underpinned by strong partnership with key stakeholders, it is focused on responding flexibly to priority skill needs and to technology-driven changes in the world of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (22 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: Apprenticeships are available in many sectors such as manufacturing, hospitality, construction, and retail.  The continued expansion of the apprenticeship system into new sectors of the economy such as agriculture and horticulture, together with the opportunity of online and blended learning, will bring real opportunities for learners and employers throughout the country. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Pensions (22 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: Third level institutes are responsible for the administration of the pension schemes under their remit and will be aware of their responsibility to operate in accordance with the provisions of the relevant pension schemes.  I respect the autonomy of the third level institutions and their responsibility to operate in compliance with regulations.  In general, public sector pension...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (22 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I can confirm that the correspondence referred to by the Deputy has been received. A response is breing prioritised and will issue shortly. The nationality requirements for the Student Grant Scheme are set out in Section 14 of the Student Support Act 2011 and Regulation 5 of the Student Support Regulations 2021. The candidate's nationality or immigration status in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (23 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: In relation to funding under the Student Grant 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 nationality requirements for the Student Grant Scheme are set out in Section 14 of the Student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Contracts (23 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science was formed on the 2 August 2020. The Department Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has not engaged the company in question in respect of the services it provides from 2nd August 2020 to date in 2022.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Contracts (23 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: My Department is not aware of any contracts in the sector with the company referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (24 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for their question on this important matter. Since the start of the 2020/2021 academic year, my Department has worked with the HEA Centre of Excellence for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and the sectoral representative bodies to ensure the national, sectoral and local roll out of: - Online consent training for all incoming students;...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Disability Services (24 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: The Deputy will be aware that my Department has a dedicated fund which supports and provides accommodations to students with disabilities in further and higher education. The Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD) provides funding to eligible further and higher education institutions to assist them in offering supports and services to eligible students with disabilities so that they can...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Policies (29 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: My Department is working on a range of responses for the people of Ukraine. We are in the process of identifying a central portal for students seeking to engage in third level education here and I hope that will be ready shortly. Any Irish student should apply through the Central Admissions Office.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Schemes (29 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: The main support available to assist postgraduate students with the cost of attending higher education is the Student Grant Scheme. Under the Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to eligible students attending an approved full-time course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (29 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: My Department provides funding for postgraduate research through both Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and the Irish Research Council (IRC). Funding is also provided by other statutory funders and, of course, private funders. Stipends are typically a feature of such funding globally, providing an income to the awardee in recognition of the need to devote themselves on a full-time basis to...