Results 41,541-41,560 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (30 May 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy is aware, the HEA recently carried out an exercise to identify options for building capacity in the higher education sector in priority disciplines including Veterinary Medicine. As I am still reviewing the submission from the HEA, it is not currently possible to say how many further places may be delivered at this time, which higher education institutions may be involved,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Cost of Living Issues (30 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I am aware of the impact of accommodation shortages and cost of living on our third level students and am actively working to address the supply of student accommodation. Increasing costs of construction and financing are impacting on viability, and as a result a number of Universities had to pause their projects. In responding to these challenges, on 29 November 2022, Government approved...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Childcare Services (30 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I can confirm that my Department does not assist with, or make a financial contribution to, the sourcing or provision of childcare or crèche facilities for the children of any staff members of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Mental Health Services (30 May 2023)

Simon Harris: The information requested by the Deputy is not held by my Department. CORU, as the regulating body for the health sector, would need to confirm the programmes and disciplines accredited to work in the mental health sector in Ireland, in order to accurately request student enrolment data from the HEA. Provided below is the number of students enrolled in mental health nursing and psychiatric...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (30 May 2023)

Simon Harris: Ireland is moving from its initial emergency response towards a more sustainable model of provision for displaced persons arriving from Ukraine. This approach is designed to align service delivery with those available to Irish and EU citizens, in accordance with the equity principle contained in the Temporary Protection Directive. This means new entrants to higher education courses in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (30 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising matters in relation to the cost of supporting students with higher education costs. I am acutely conscious of the challenges facing students and the need for the progressive implementation of measures to address cost as a barrier to education. I also recognise that costs are not limited to tuition fees payable by students and that students have real cost of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Energy Infrastructure (30 May 2023)

Simon Harris: Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) is the state agency responsible for the external quality assurance of further and higher education and training in Ireland. In September of each year QQI publishes the certification periods for the following calendar year. There are six times during the year when providers may request certification from QQI for their learners. Requests from providers...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (30 May 2023)

Simon Harris: The amount paid by my Department to external legal teams, HR specialists, accountancy firms and consultants in 2022 can be found in the following table: - Amount Legal Teams € 3,716.05 HR Specialists Accountancy Firms € 27,137.50 Consultancies € 183,314.53

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (30 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 806 to 809, inclusive, together. Significant engagement is ongoing between my Department, the Department of Health and the Higher Education sector to develop a joined-up approach to address system level demand in allied health disciplines. Healthcare programmes are, by their nature, complex in delivery. There are some fundamental issues, which are in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (31 May 2023)

Simon Harris: Under the Further Education and Training Act (2013), SOLAS has statutory responsibility for planning, funding, and co-ordinating Further Education and Training (FET) in Ireland. My officials have referred your query to SOLAS for direct reply to the individual in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (31 May 2023)

Simon Harris: The introduction of the Apprentice Employer Grant of €2,000 per apprentice per annum was a significant deliverable under the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025. Its introduction meant that, for the first time, employers of all apprentices will now have access to financial support, either through direct payment of allowances to apprentices or through this employer grant. In this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (31 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 205 and 207 together. The Technological Universities Transformation Fund (TUTF) is a 3-year fund totalling €90 million, for the period 2020 – 2023. It will officially end on 31 August 2023, with all €90 million allocated to the seven technological higher education institutions (ATU, DkIT, IADT, MTU, SETU, TU Dublin and TUS). The fund...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (31 May 2023)

Simon Harris: In Budget 2023 the Government introduced a range of measures to support people with the cost of living. As part of this overall response, I introduced a significant package that has seen students and families directly benefit. The package provided for adjustments to the level of funding available through existing supports provided by my Department, including once-off measures in academic...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (31 May 2023)

Simon Harris: The main support available to assist postgraduate students with the cost of attending higher education is the Student Grant Scheme. Under the Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to eligible students attending an approved full-time course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (31 May 2023)

Simon Harris: Since 2021, the Department has disbursed just over €96m in funding for the 2021/22 and 2022/23 academic years under the Devolved Capital Grant to Education and Training Boards (ETBs) and eligible Higher Education Institutions. The Devolved Capital Grant is allocated in accordance with a model based primarily on student numbers, weighted by course type and mode of study. In April...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (1 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: Ensuring a supply of qualified vets to meet the demands of Ireland's agri-food sector is an important issue for my Department. Workforce planning requirements for the veterinary medicine sector are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in consultation with the Veterinary Council of Ireland. Officials in my Department have been engaging closely with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (1 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: Addressing the cost of education is a key priority for me. Over the course of the past three Budgets, I have delivered a range of enhancements to the Student Grant Scheme to put more money into the pockets of students and their families including a significant package of cost of living measures which took effect this academic year. For students starting their course this September, I have...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research and Development (1 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: There a number of initiatives already underway and others planned to improve the interface between the wider research community and Government. Earlier this month, I established the Research and Innovation Policy Advisory Forum. As envisaged in Impact 2030, this innovative Forum will provide an agreed structure for engagementbetween members of the research and innovation community and policy...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (1 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: A key strength of the apprenticeship model is that it is an employer demand-led approach to meeting workforce and skills requirements nationwide. Through education and training providers, including all 16 Education and Training Boards, apprentices gain valuable skills and experience. Employers can be confident that apprentices are truly job-ready when they graduate with a QQI-recognised...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (1 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: The delivery of healthcare programmes is complex and requires coordination across multiple parts of the health and education systems, particularly in relation to the oversight and governance of clinical placements. Following challenges faced by the higher education sector in securing sufficient appropriate and reliable clinical placements, in mid-2022 my Department established a working...