Results 41,601-41,620 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

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

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising matters in relation to the cost of supporting students with tuition fees and other 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 or other registration fees payable...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Qualifications Recognition (1 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: Under the current model, trainees who successfully complete a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) or Quarries Skills Certification Scheme (QSCS) programme receive QQI accreditation and a CSCS/QSCS card. Following an independent review of SOLAS’s Construction Services Unit in 2017 and subsequent consultation with public sector, industry, and staff representatives, all...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Bodies (1 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: The list of public bodies under the aegis of my Department is as follows: The Higher Education Authority Irish Research Council Grangegorman Development Agency SOLAS Skillnet Ireland Quality and Qualifications Ireland Léargas - The Exchange Bureau Science Foundation Ireland The Oireachtas contact details for each of the aegis bodies are provided in the document attached. Contact E-Mail...

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

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 393, 394, 395, 396, 398 and 401 together. One of my goals as Minister is to ensure that potential learners have access to the educational pathways that allow them reach their potential in a way that meets the very broad and rapidly changing needs of our labour force, the economy and society. It is therefore my objective to ensure that capacity continues...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Labour Market (1 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department continues to prioritise strengthening our skills ecosystem to ensure it has the agility and flexibility to adapt to changing priorities in the skills and workforce development landscape, including increasingly rapid, technologically driven changes in the world of work. This focus is underpinned by the detailed and comprehensive OECD Report on Ireland's Skills Strategy...

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

Simon Harris: My Department is actively addressing the availability of student accommodation, given the challenges in the wider rental market. Through “Housing for All”, the Government has approved development of policy and provision of funding to increase the supply of purpose built student accommodation. This has resulted in the State directly supporting the short term development of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Bullying in Educational Institutions (1 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy is aware, our tertiary education institutions have a duty of care to ensure that staff and students have a safe environment to study and work; free from bullying, harassment or other forms of unwanted behaviour. This is an entitlement for everyone who works and studies at our third level institutions. The Deputy will be familiar with the ‘Speak Out’ tool which my...

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

Simon Harris: Equity of Access to Further and Higher Education continues to be a national priority for the Government and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. Inclusion is a key goal in my Department's Statement of Strategy. The Deputy may be aware that I already instigated improvements to the student grant scheme in Budget 2022. For the academic year 2022/23, I...

Our Rural Future Policy: Statements (14 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank the Dáil for facilitating this debate. I am proud to be a member of the Fine Gael Party that established the Department of Rural and Community Development. It is a Department that has become known to communities, community organisations, local authorities and small businesses across the country as a "can do" Department. Initially under the leadership of the former Minister,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Policies (13 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: The principle of academic freedom is a cornerstone of high-quality higher education and research throughout the world. Ireland has among the highest statutory protections in its sectorial legislation for academic freedom in Europe. Academic freedom is provided for in section 14 of the Universities Act, 1997 section 10 of the Technological Universities Act, 2018 and section 5A of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Policies (13 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: Tackling sexual violence and harassment has been and will continue to a particular policy priority for me and my Department. In fact, one of the very first actions I took after my appointment as Minister in 2020 was to write to all publicly funded higher education institutions outlining my commitment to tackling sexual violence and harassment in higher education and requesting that...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (13 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: As part of Budget 2023, in recognition of the cost of living financial challenges facing full time third level students funded through my Department, I secured a significant cost of living package for third level students. This included a once-off €1,000 state financial support towards the undergraduate student contribution fee for higher education students eligible for my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (13 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: On May 4th 2022, the Government published Funding the Future, as part of the policy response to the independent report “Increasing the Sustainability of Higher and Further Education in Ireland”, a comprehensive economic evaluation of the various funding options presented in the Cassells Expert Group Report (2016). Funding the Future confirmed that a mixed funding model would be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (13 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: The total population of craft and consortia apprentices as per 31st May 2023, in tabular form is attached.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (13 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: The difficulties faced by students in accessing affordable student accommodation is an issue which Government and I are actively pursuing. This issue is heightened by the shortage of accommodation in the wider private rental market. Government is committed to addressing supply of affordable student accommodation attending publicly funded higher education institutions in Ireland. Through...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Schemes (13 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: The Debenhams Training Fund, proposed by the Chairman of the Labour Court in the context of the liquidation of Debenhams Ireland, was endorsed by the former workers in May 2021. Having secured the necessary approval of the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, the Fund is being financed from the National Training Fund. The Fund is administered by SOLAS and provides...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Schemes (13 Jun 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, who have advised the apprentice will be called to their off the job training in October 2023.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (13 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: Student Travel Card (13 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: Apprentices are primarily employees for the duration of their apprenticeship and all of the 67 available apprenticeships are undertaken under a contract of employment. Apprenticeship programmes incorporate a minimum of 50% on-the-job training combined with off-the-job training. This is delivered in a number of different ways according to the apprenticeship programme. Training format ranges...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (13 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy is aware, higher education institutions are autonomous institutions and therefore it is a matter for individual institutions to determine policy and procedure in relation to any capitation fees or other levy payable by students for services or campus facilitates. In this regard it is not open to my Department to intervene in such policies and my Department has no plans to...