Results 37,981-38,000 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Land Issues (26 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: My Department and the Higher Education Authority (HEA) continue to work closely with Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) in relation to meeting requirements to deliver on the ambitions of the new Technological University. WIT has prepared a detailed preliminary business case, in accordance with the requirements of the Public Spending Code, to examine options for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (26 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: There are no staff members of my Department who have availed of a secondment since the establishment of the Department in 2020 on the basis that it was not the intention of the staff member to return to the Department following their secondment period.  

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (26 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to this issue has been requested from SOLAS Officials in my department are engaging with the SOLAS to confirm the exact position and the details will be communicated to the Deputy as soon as possible. 

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (26 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: In line with the European Council Decision of 4 March, the Government is applying the rights afforded under the International Protection Act, 2015 to: (a) Ukrainian nationals residing in the Ukraine before 24 February 2022; (b) Third Country Nationals who were permanently residing in Ukraine before 24 February 2022; (c) Stateless persons, and nationals of third countries other than the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (26 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: The Government is committed under the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 to working with employers to promote, enable, and support the recruitment and training of apprentices. There is a very substantial allocation of resources to apprenticeships drawing on the funding raised through the Employer Training Levy into the National Training Fund. Therefore, apprenticeships are not a direct...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (26 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: Apprenticeships are employer-led demand-driven educational and training programmes that aim to develop the skills of an apprentice in order to meet the needs of industry and the labour market.  As apprentices are employees, the demand for and number of apprentices is primarily dictated by the employers in any area or sector A key objective of the Action Plan for Apprenticeship...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (26 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I am commited to the progressive implementation of measures to address costs as a barrier to education, which will include the student contribution, within the overall context of Government policy towards costs of living and other relevant strategies including those related to access and participation in education.    Under the Department’s Free Fees Initiative (FFI), the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Science Foundation Ireland (26 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: Professor Philip Nolan was appointed as the Director General of Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) in January 2022. He replaced Professor Mark Ferguson, who was the Director General of SFI for the previous 10 years.  The information requested by the Deputy is in the attached document. The Science Foundation Ireland Director General salary package from...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (26 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: The following table collated by SOLAS shows the phase 2 capacity figures of each college of further education per apprenticeship type and the total increase since 2019 The phase 2 capacity figures presented in the attached document are based on the year the class commenced. For example, the figure for year 2019 is the capacity of the classes that started in 2019 although some classes would...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (26 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: The National Open Research Coordinator (NORC) position was jointly supported by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (DBEI) and the Department of Education and Skills from the establishment of the post on 1 September 2020. Support was transferred to my Department following its establishment and the transfer of functions from DBEI to DFHERIS. The NORC is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research Funding (26 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: The figure of €37.3m that the Deputy refers to is the 2021 budgeted expenditure by DFHERIS on research programmes published in the Research and Development Budget 2020-2021 - Government Budget Allocations for Research and Development. This figure is derived from the 2020 R&D Budget Survey which is an annual survey that measures the amount of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Policies (26 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: The existing Employment Control Framework approach, which has been in place since 2011, is still in place in a number of sectors in the public service including the Higher Education Sector.  Officials from my Department are engaged on an ongoing basis with their counterparts in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Higher Education Authority to agree principles for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (26 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: The loans available for Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) students are private arrangements between the relevant lenders and the students applying for such loans. Notwithstanding this position the Department has been made aware of reports regarding the specific loan scheme for graduate entry medicine and is seeking further information on this issue.  The fee payable by a student can...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research Funding (26 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: The Irish Research Council (IRC) is an associated agency of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, under the aegis of the HEA. The IRC’s mandate from government is to: - Fund excellent research within, and between, all disciplines, and in doing so to enhance Ireland’s international reputation as a centre for research and learning -...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 182a: In page 81, between lines 23 and 24, to insert the following: “Amendment of section 25 of Act of 2018 92.Section 25 of the Act of 2018 is amended— (a) in subsection (3), by— (i) the substitution of “Subject to subsection (3A), a technological university” for “A technological university”, and (ii) the...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 182g: In page 82, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following: “Amendment of section 61 of Act of 2018 98. Section 61 of the Act of 2018 is amended by the addition of the following subsection: “(3) On the day appointed by order under section 44F— (a) any procedures for quality assurance under section 28 of the Act of 2012 standing...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 202a: In page 108, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following: “Provision of assistance by An tÚdarás 126. (1) An tÚdarás may provide assistance in accordance with this section to a designated institution of higher education following a request in writing for such assistance from the institution. (2) The assistance that may be...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 205: In page 108, line 33, to delete “may publish” and substitute “shall publish”. We are effectively trying to achieve the same end. The purpose of the amendment is to provide the guidelines, codes or policies prepared or adopted by the HEA under this section must be published. Amendment No. 206 has the same effect as amendment No. 205...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 210: In page 110, to delete lines 14 and 15 and substitute the following: " No. 3 of 2018 Technological Universities Act 2018 Sections 26, 27(2) and (3), 58, 80(b), 82, 83, 84 and 91 ".

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Gender Proofing of Policies (4 May 2022)

Simon Harris: Equality budgeting is an integral part of the current budgeting framework of the Department.  It is currently applied to programmes with a particular focus on gender equality in further education, higher education leadership, apprenticeship and in research. Reporting on access provision to higher education includes the number of new entrants entering higher education with a...