Results 38,301-38,320 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Provision of Education Supports for Ukrainian Students (1 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I did not get to this question in my opening statement, so I am grateful to the Deputy for asking the question. There is a group of 60 Irish medical and dental students who were forced to abandon their studies in Ukraine for their safety. My officials - and I thank Mr. Ian McKenna and his team - have been liaising with the deans of the medical schools in Ireland. Those deans are currently...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Provision of Education Supports for Ukrainian Students (1 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank the Senator. Her analysis is right and honest. This is a situation that will evolve, as the Senator noted. We are at the early stages, from the point of view of our sector. The first thing you need when you arrive in a new country having fled war is not higher education, but accommodation, food, safety, checking in with your family, learning the English language in the community,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Provision of Education Supports for Ukrainian Students (1 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: The student assistance fund will also be available for students from Ukraine to draw down if they have specific needs. In the memo that I am bringing to the Cabinet, probably within the next two weeks, there will be specific funding for additional psychological support services for students from Ukraine. I will reflect on what the Senator has said about whether there is a need to do more....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Provision of Education Supports for Ukrainian Students (1 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: The Senator is right about career guidance. We have linked in and are utilising the ETB career guidance service. I am grateful that the Senator mentioned ETBs because it provides me with an opportunity to thank them. I have visited quite a number of ETB centres in several counties over the past month and have been blown away by the level of work they are doing and the skills on show across...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Provision of Education Supports for Ukrainian Students (1 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: No. I needed to clarify that, given my previous comments about SUSI. They will get the SUSI level of support through the Erasmus+ agreement that we have reached at European level. The Acting Chair and Deputy Ó Cathasaigh raised an issue about research. We are in receipt of a proposal from a university working with the Irish Research Council, IRC, and Scholars at Risk for funding to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Provision of Education Supports for Ukrainian Students (1 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy. Yes, that entrance examination, the leaving certificate equivalent if you like, can and will be a route into third level education. We have talked a lot about CAO reform and how there must be other pathways. The university system takes in many students through the mature student application route every year so it is not without precedent that there would be another...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Provision of Education Supports for Ukrainian Students (1 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: To the best of my knowledge, it is specific to Ukraine at the moment. I alluded earlier to the fact that a policy question will have to be addressed in this regard because these matters relate specifically to people who are displaced in Ireland and under the protection directive issued at European level. It may present a significant policy contradiction as regards how other refugees in this...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Provision of Education Supports for Ukrainian Students (1 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Provision of Education Supports for Ukrainian Students (1 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: Yes, I agree.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Provision of Education Supports for Ukrainian Students (1 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I will do that. The Deputy is right. A universities of sanctuary initiative is run through a number of universities. We have made significant changes to the level of financial support available and made it easier for people in direct provision to qualify for support in higher education. However, I also want to be honest with the Deputy. We have the Dr. Catherine Day report on this issue...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Provision of Education Supports for Ukrainian Students (1 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: No.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Provision of Education Supports for Ukrainian Students (1 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: Yes, that is right.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Provision of Education Supports for Ukrainian Students (1 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: Yes, recognition of qualifications and the like fall under the Department. The Deputy will be delighted to know that there are approximately 45 competent independent regulators and authorities within that. To give an example, SOLAS, which deals with many of the trades and crafts, is operating a system where an individual who comes to Ireland with a foreign qualification, trade or...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Grant Payments (15 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank my colleague, Senator Maria Byrne, very much for raising this important matter and, indeed, for her ongoing interest and work in the whole area of further and higher education. I enjoyed our recent visit to County Limerick and we are going to make progress on many issues, including the library in Mary Immaculate College. I look forward to coming back on that. I also enjoyed...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Grant Payments (15 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank the Senator and assure her I will work closely with her on this. I highlight the two schemes in existence not to suggest they are perfect or an alternative to reform but just to put that information out there for anyone following this debate as avenues that might be of assistance to a student with disability or students more generally in terms of the student assistance fund, because...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: An Garda Síochána (15 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank the Acting Chairperson and it is great to see Wicklow so well represented here. I thank Senator Crowe for reminding all of us of that fact and for raising what is an important matter. My colleague, the Minister for Justice, sends her sincere apologies and asked me to provide the Senator with this update. I will also undertake to follow up and provide the Minister, Deputy McEntee,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: An Garda Síochána (15 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank the Senator again for raising this important matter and I will pass on his comments and views to the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee. The Government, which we both support and are members of, continues to prioritise unprecedented resource allocation to An Garda Síochána. This is about making sure the operating model ensures that those resources deliver in the best...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ukraine War (14 Jun 2022)

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

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (14 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: Science Foundation Ireland funds research in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The budget allocated to Science Foundation Ireland by my Department for 2022 is broken down as follows: Capital€213.4m Current€ 16.8m

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research and Development (14 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: Impact 2030, the national strategy for research and innovation, undertakes to review and optimise Ireland’s membership of international research organisations to ensure that our engagement reflects our existing and emerging strategic priorities. Under the National Development Plan 2018-2027, as part of Project Ireland 2040, the Government outlined its intention to review Ireland's...