Results 38,221-38,240 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health and Safety (1 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank the Senator. She has shown a great interest in this matter, apprenticeships and the like since becoming a Member. My best guesstimate is around the month of October but certainly before the end of the year. We are working to make sure that the Safe Pass registration process fully transitions online by the end of the year. I know that the initiative will be very welcome having...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Student Universal Support Ireland Grant (1 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank my colleague for his work on this matter. It is a good example of common-sense politics where one identifies an issue and bring forward proposals to fix the issue. I thank him for tabling this proposal at a meeting of our parliamentary party and for engaging with me on same. The proposal is good for students, local businesses and families. In addition, there is the concept that...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Student Universal Support Ireland Grant (1 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I largely agree with everything the Senator said. When it was set as the income level in 2016, €4,500 was worth a different amount in real terms. The world has changed, including in the context of inflation and in terms of minimum wage changes. This is a common-sense proposal the Senator is bringing forward but I often find common sense is not that common. It is important when we...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (31 May 2022)

Simon Harris: Apprentices are primarily employees and all of the 65 available apprenticeships are undertaken under a contract of employment.  For the majority of apprenticeships, the rate of pay is agreed between the apprentice and the employer, with the employer paying the apprentice during both on-the-job and off-the-job training elements of the programme. Information on employment legislation...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (31 May 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 527 and 529 together. The information requested by the Deputy in relation to this issue has been requested from SOLAS. Officials in my Department are engaging with SOLAS to confirm the position and the details will be communicated to the Deputy  as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (31 May 2022)

Simon Harris: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the use of the recognition of prior learning procedures is being compiled by SOLAS. An answer will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (31 May 2022)

Simon Harris: The Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) programmes provide for the training, assessment, certification and registration of non-craft operatives, providing the knowledge and skills needed for occupations within the construction sector. There is a new entrant programme for individuals who do not have the relevant experience for CSCS assessment and individuals that have no...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (31 May 2022)

Simon Harris: The fee payable by a student can vary depending on a variety factors including the type of course and the student's access route including previous education. In considering the position it is important to distinguish between the free fees policy of an individual Higher Education Institution and the eligibility criteria of separate tuition fee schemes provided by my Department. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (31 May 2022)

Simon Harris:  Irish Universities have autonomy to borrow in their own name within a framework to be agreed with the HEA, the Dept of Finance and Dept of Public Expenditure and Reform. Section 38 of the Universities Act, 1997 states that: (1) A university may borrow money by means of bank overdraft or otherwise and may guarantee or underwrite a loan taken or borrowing undertaken by a person or a body...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capital Expenditure Programme (31 May 2022)

Simon Harris: The revised National Development Plan (NDP) provides for Exchequer investment of nearly €2.9 billion in further and higher education infrastructure, research and innovation over the five-year period 2021–2025. This is in addition to infrastructure to be delivered by way of the Higher Education PPP programme Public Private Partnership (PPP), which is focused on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (31 May 2022)

Simon Harris: The revised National Development Plan (NDP) provides for Exchequer investment of nearly €2.9 billion in further and higher education infrastructure, research and innovation over the five-year period 2021–2025. Attached below are details of the projects, the funding for which are channelled through the HEA. Table 1. Upgrade and Refurbishment Projects ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (31 May 2022)

Simon Harris: In line with Housing for All, my Department concurs that a borrowing framework for technological universities (TUs) should be developed in the first instance for the provision of student accommodation. Enabling appropriate access to finance is one of the significant requirements for the delivery by higher education institutions of purpose built student accommodation. Department officials are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (31 May 2022)

Simon Harris: In line with Housing for All, My Department has agreed a borrowing framework for technological universities (TUs) will be developed in the first instance for the provision of student accommodation. Enabling appropriate access to finance is one of the significant requirements for the delivery by higher education institutions of purpose built student accommodation. Department officials are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (31 May 2022)

Simon Harris: The details the Deputy has requested on the number of SUSI maintenance grants that were paid to recipients on full-time courses whereby disability allowance was declared by the applicant broken down by post Leaving Certificate, undergraduate and postgraduate courses for the academic years 2018/2019, 2019/2020, 2020/2021 and to date in 2021/2022 are in the attached table. SUSI Paid...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (31 May 2022)

Simon Harris: Training opportunities are provided by the on-site retrofit programmes in Centres of Excellence Laois/Offaly, Waterford/Wexford and Limerick/Clare ETBs. We also intend to open three more in Cork, Mayo-Sligo and I am really pleased to confirm we have reached an agreement to open a new centre of excellence in Dublin too. In many cases, where a person has an existing construction-related...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (31 May 2022)

Simon Harris: The requested information is set out in the attached table. Please note that details of current civil service salary scales are available at www.gov.ie/en/circular/ef515-application-of-1st-february-202 2-pay-adjustments/ The requested information is set out in the attached table. Please note that details of current civil service salary scales are available at STAFFING IN THE DEPARTMENT OF...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (31 May 2022)

Simon Harris: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the percentage of early school leavers in the apprenticeship system is presently being compiled by Solas. An answer will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (31 May 2022)

Simon Harris: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the value of the weekly allowance paid to each craft apprentice is presently being compiled by Solas. An answer will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (31 May 2022)

Simon Harris: Springboard+ complements the core State-funded education and training system and provides free and subsidised upskilling and reskilling higher education opportunities in areas of identified skills need. Springboard+ courses are at Level 6 (Certificate) to Level 9 (Masters) on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) and are delivered by public and private higher education providers...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (31 May 2022)

Simon Harris: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to apprentices who had their off the job training moved online is presently being compiled by Solas. An answer will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.