Results 38,161-38,180 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (19 May 2022)

Simon Harris: am aware of the difficulties faced by students in relation to obtaining affordable accommodation. Fundamentally the underlying issue is one of the supply of housing generally and that 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (19 May 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for his question on this important matter. Our higher education institutions have a duty of care to their students and staff, and a responsibility to foster a campus culture that is clear in the condemnation of unwanted and unacceptable behaviours, which act as barriers to their safety and their active participation in college life. Significant progress has been made...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (19 May 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 158 and 173 together. The 2022 provision of €16.83m approved by SOLAS for Local Training Initiatives (LTI) in response to ETB requests, is broadly in line with the €16.53m approved for 2021. This funding is expected to support almost 4,500 LTI beneficiaries and will be reviewed during the year. Training provision organised through LTI...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (19 May 2022)

Simon Harris: I would like to thank the Deputy for their question. Diversity is a key strength of Irish higher education. In recent decades our universities, institutes of technology, and colleges have been transformed, from predominantly national institutions catering primarily for school-leavers, to internationally oriented institutions engaged with an increasingly diverse student body, of all ages,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (19 May 2022)

Simon Harris: My Department is strongly committed to supporting the mental health of the population through the provision of graduates with the key competencies and skills to be effective in the health workforce, and support a range of clinical teams in our health services. My Department understands there is a longstanding arrangement in place under which the HSE recruit Trainee Clinical Psychologists and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (19 May 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for her question on this important matter. Our higher education institutions have a duty of care to their students and staff, and a responsibility to foster a campus culture that is clear in the condemnation of unwanted and unacceptable behaviours, which act as barriers to their safety and their active participation in college life. Significant progress has been made...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (19 May 2022)

Simon Harris: The Department is working with colleagues both in SOLAS, the HEA and other Government Departments to deliver an appropriate response to existing projections of skills needs in the construction sector. We are currently finalising a report with Solas and I expect to publish this shortly, alongside a plan on how we plan to address the need. Education and training relevant to the skills...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (19 May 2022)

Simon Harris: Significant progress has been made regarding the Framework for Consent in Higher Education since it was first launched in 2019. The Framework aims to ensure the creation of an institutional campus culture which is safe, respectful and supportive. In 2019, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) awarded €350,000 in performance funding in recognition of the impact of the programme...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (19 May 2022)

Simon Harris: My Department and I are committed to ensuring access to third level education to everyone across the island. The 2021 Memorandum of Understanding on the Education Dimensions of the Common Travel Area, students from Ireland and Northern Ireland will continue to access higher education on the same basis as they did prior to the withdrawal of the UK from the EU in terms of fees and student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (19 May 2022)

Simon Harris: Equity of Access to Further and Higher Education continues to be a priority for me and my Department. Inclusion is a key goal in my Department's Statement of Strategy. The Programme for Government also reflects the importance of supporting learners at risk of educational disadvantage and learners with special education needs in higher education. Work on development of the new National...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (19 May 2022)

Simon Harris: The pandemic has changed many aspects of our lives, not least through increased digital usage. Many more people are working remotely or learning online. As Ireland emerges from the pandemic, the government wants to capture and build upon the positive elements of this experience, in a considered and balanced way. €35.1m Covid-19 support funding was provided to institutions in 2020 to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (19 May 2022)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy is aware, Dundalk Institute of Technology is currently pursuing a trajectory to achieve technological university (TU) status and is receiving Transformation Fund assistance from the Exchequer to do so. In other practical terms the Institute is also availing of the services of a highly experienced special advisor from the Higher Education Authority (HEA), Dr. Ruaidhri Neavyn, to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (19 May 2022)

Simon Harris: The principal support provided by my Department in financial terms is the Student Grant Scheme. The Scheme is administered by SUSI. The scheme is demand led and as such the numbers applying each year can change for reasons such as demographics and the expansion and extension of alternative educational opportunities. For example, in 2020/21, there was an increase in the number of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (19 May 2022)

Simon Harris: At the request of my Department, the HEA has engaged with the higher education sector to seek proposals for increased provision in areas skills need. The areas identified are: - Social Care and Social Work; - Healthcare disciplines; - Construction professions, including civil engineers, quantity surveyor and architecture; - Science and engineering, particularly as relates to the climate...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (19 May 2022)

Simon Harris: The CAO process applications for undergraduate courses on behalf of the Higher Education Institutions. Decisions on admissions are made by the HEIs who then instruct the CAO to make offers to successful candidates. Neither I nor my Department have a role in the operation of the CAO, or in the determination of points levels. CAO points are determined by the grades received by students,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (19 May 2022)

Simon Harris: A key commitment of the ‘Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025’is to grow the number of apprenticeship registrations across the public service, including local authorities, to reach 750 annual registrations by 2025. This represents a more than seven-fold increase on 2020 registrations and will support a long-term goal of 7% of the apprentice population being employed by...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (19 May 2022)

Simon Harris: The mental health and wellbeing of students is a priority for the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic which has brought increased stress and anxiety levels for students. My Department has progressed a number of initiatives, in partnership with the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and Higher Education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research and Development (19 May 2022)

Simon Harris: I should first explain that my Department provides resources for competitive research funding allocated through calls managed by Science Foundation Ireland and the Irish Research Council. This is in addition to the research funded by Higher Education Institutions through their block grants. While research is typically relevant to societal issues, specific sectoral issues such as the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (19 May 2022)

Simon Harris: My Department is strongly committed to supporting the mental health of the population through the provision of graduates with the key competencies and skills to be effective in the health workforce, and support a range of clinical teams in our mental health services. The National Health and Social Care Professions Office in the HSE have advised me that the Psychology Project Team...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (19 May 2022)

Simon Harris: The Government is steadfast in its condemnation of Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine. As Minister, I am determined those fleeing the war will receive comprehensive and compassionate support to allow them to continue their education here in Ireland and my officials have been working proactively with the higher education sector to facilitate this.I must acknowledge the generosity of those...