Results 37,721-37,740 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ukraine War (7 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I can confirm my Department has received correspondence from the person detailed and my officials have already been in contact with them regarding continuing their studies in Ireland. Since the start of the war in Ukraine, my Department has received a very large volume of enquiries, from Irish students who were studying in Ukraine, from Ukrainian and students from third countries...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (7 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: The waiting list for craft apprenticeship off-the-job training has resulted from the adverse impact of COVID public health restrictions on the operation of the education and training sector. In responding to these restrictions it has been a priority to seek to facilitate, whenever possible, access to onsite teaching and learning for essential skills-based activities such as apprenticeship....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Sustainable Development Goals (7 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for this question as it affords me an opportunity to update her on the progress made under Sustainable Development Goal 4.5 by my department. The Deputy will be aware that Sustainable Development Goal 4.5 seeks to eliminate gender disparities in education and to ensure equal access for vulnerable members of society. Since its inception, my department has been active in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Equality Issues (7 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 353, 354 and 355, inclusive, together. In 2022, my Department’s budget for Research, Innovation and Science is €255m. This represents 8.5% of my Department’s voted allocation for 2022. HEIs also fund R&I from their block allocations, but have autonomy in how that funding is applied. My Department provides funding for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (7 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: The main support available to students is the statutory based Student Grant Scheme where students are studying for the first time or are progressing to study at a higher level. The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine. Assessment of means...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Strategies (7 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: Doctoral education programmes in Ireland educate and develop researchers to the highest skills levels so that they become creative, critical and independent individuals who will advance the boundaries of research. Through the process of doctoral education, the student is provided with opportunities to develop a range of skills to a very advanced level. These skills relate both to the research...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (7 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: My Department currently has one member of staff based and working with the European Union in Brussels, as Research and Innovation Attaché in the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the European Union. The officer represents Ireland at the Working Party on Research. The Working Party on Research handles matters in the research and innovation area, including legislation, before they...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Defibrillators Provision (7 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: My Department shares a number of office locations with the Department of Education. I have been in touch with their officials and can confirm that defibrillators are available in the shared locations in Athlone, Tullamore and Marlborough Street. My Department also has an office located on St Stephen's Green, I can confirm that a defibrillator is available at this location. In addition, my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Contracts (7 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science came into existence in 2020. Prior to the department's establishment the information regarding consultancy was managed and published by the Department of Education and is available at www.gov.ie/en/collection/department-of-education-and-skills- expenditure-on-consultancy/. The data in respect of 2021 are...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputies Ó Ríordáin and Conway-Walsh for the amendments which, as they have said, largely refer to how we define and protect the autonomy and independence of a student union. Deputy Conway-Walsh had a view on the definition of a trade union. I will deal with the student union piece first. I am supportive of what Deputy Ó Ríordáin is trying to...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 7: In page 15, line 27, to delete “(including the promotion and use of the Irish language)”. My amendments and those of Deputy Conway-Walsh endeavour to achieve the same aim, relating to the promotion and use of the Irish language and strengthening its provision across the sector, although we may have different views on how best to do it. Amendments...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank all the Deputies for their work in this regard. This is an example of where the work of a committee makes a difference. Sometimes people only see the ruaille buaille in the Dáil Chamber and set pieces during the day, but it is the detailed, collaborative cross-party work that gets done in committees that sometimes genuinely improves legislation. It does not just improve...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 8: In page 15, line 29, after “agility” to insert the following: “and, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, such support shall include the promotion and use by those institutions of the Irish language”.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Ó Cathasaigh for submitting the amendments, outlining his rationale and engaging with my officials on the matter. For the record of the committee, I will state the factual position as of now in the legislation. It is noted that conditions of funding apply when Exchequer funding is provided to a funded body. As the Deputy has alluded to, there are not conditions relating...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 11: In page 15, line 31, to delete "value-for-money from" and substitute "value for money in". Amendments Nos. 11, 21 and 200 are in my name. I do not think they are controversial and I will take the Deputies through them. Amendment No. 11 is a technical amendment to align the wording of section 8(1)(c) with section 9(1)(c). We are changing the word "from" to the...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: We have a different view on this in that I see the benefit in the value for money. I take the Deputy's point on what value for money is and value for money is not defined in that sense but the analysis of it is entrusted to the HEA. The HEA's board is appointed under legislation with an accountability back to this House through me and through the likes of the Committee of Public Accounts....

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputies Conway-Walsh and Ó Ríordáin for their contributions. I wish to be clear in respect of wanting to develop, enhance and protect a public higher education system. Deputy Ó Cathasaigh referenced the funding discussions on how to sustainably fund higher education. I intend to bring proposals to Cabinet, likely this month, in that regard. I look forward to...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I accept the need to address the issue of precarious employment, and the need for the HEA and funding institutes more broadly to be active in this space. I accept that and I know they would too. However, I do not believe this is the appropriate place for this amendment in legislation. Due to where it would be in the Bill, and the Bill it would be in, it would not achieve what the Deputy...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputies. To be very clear, academic freedom is something on which we are all agreed. It becomes more important by the day. To be very clear in relation to democratic values and everything else, academic freedom is the law of our land and remains so. There is nothing in this Bill that in any way dilutes, modifies or changes the reality that academic freedom is fully and...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 20: 20.In page 16, to delete lines 10 and 11 and substitute the following: “(c)secure and evidence value for money in the expenditure by An tÚdarás of moneys provided to it under section 19,”.