Results 41,741-41,760 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (4 Jul 2023)

Simon Harris: The Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) is operated by the Irish Universities Association (IUA) on behalf of the higher education institutions who set the policy criteria for the scheme. Further information on IUA is available on www.iua.ie. Applications to the scheme are submitted to the Central Applications Office (CAO) who coordinate the scheme for participating institutions....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Labour Market (5 Jul 2023)

Simon Harris: The Government has set an ambitious target to retrofit 500,000 homes by 2030. The Report on the Analysis of Skills for Residential Construction & Retrofitting, 2023 to 2030and Skills for Zero Carbon – The Demand for Renewable Energy, Residential Retrofit and Electric Vehicle Deployment Skills to 2030, have outlined a number of recommendations in both residential retrofitting...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (5 Jul 2023)

Simon Harris: In November 2022, the Government confirmed approval for a new policy led by my Department, to provide State assistance to stimulate the development of new and additional student accommodation for public higher education institutions. This landmark policy response will, for the first time, see the State providing financial support in the construction of student accommodation, and underpins the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (5 Jul 2023)

Simon Harris: I have sought an update from SUSI in respect of the individual referred to by the deputy. The student submitted an appeal to SUSI regarding the rate of grant awarded on the 14th June 2023. The Appeals Officer determined that she had been correctly assessed as a mature dependent student and refused her appeal on the 16th June 2023, advising her of her right to appeal further to the Student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (5 Jul 2023)

Simon Harris: An inclusive higher education system is a national and European priority. Inclusion is one of the six strategic goals set out in my Department’s Statement of Strategy. My priority is to deliver a more equitable higher education system. The fourth National Access Plan 2022-2028 was launched on August 31 2022 setting out our ambition to support inclusion and diversity in our student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (5 Jul 2023)

Simon Harris: On June 28th 2023, I announced a significant milestone in the development of the National College of Art and Design (NCAD), under the Department's Infrastructure Upgrade and Refurbishment Fund (IURF). NCAD prepared an application for funding under the IURF in respect of a proposed development for the college. During my visit to the college, I confirmed that the Department felt that there...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (5 Jul 2023)

Simon Harris: Across the Higher Education System, funding has been provided under Springboard+ and the Human Capital Initiative for programmes which provide upskilling and reskilling opportunities in areas of identified skills need. On 7th June 2023, a combined total of 11,213 places on 357 courses were launched under Springboard+ 2023 and Human Capital Initiative (HCI) Pillar 1, provided by public and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (5 Jul 2023)

Simon Harris: While my Department does not have a specific policy regarding announcements and the distinction between new funding and previously announced funds, I can assure the Deputy that the Department places great emphasis on clear and open communication with the public. When making announcements, my Department prioritises accuracy, context and plain language to ensure clarity and avoid any...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (5 Jul 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 229, 230, 231, 232, 233 and 234 together. In November 2022, I appointed Dr Andrea Johnson and Mr David Cagney to undertake an independent National Review of State Supports for PhD Researchers. This reflects the objective, under the dedicated Talent Pillar of Impact 2030, Ireland’s national research and innovation strategy, for a consistent research...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Cross-Border Co-operation (5 Jul 2023)

Simon Harris: The Government’s Shared Island initiative aims to harness the full potential of the Good Friday Agreement to enhance cooperation, connection and mutual understanding, as well as engagement with all communities and traditions to build consensus around a shared future on the island. On the 20th of June, the Government awarded €56 million from the Shared Island Fund for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Equipment (5 Jul 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department has recorded no instances of using unlicensed and/or lapsed licenced software since its establishment in August 2020 to date.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (6 Jul 2023)

Simon Harris: The Safety, Health & Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013 require that certain construction workers carrying out safety critical tasks must complete Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) training. On successful completion, workers are issued with a CSCS Card which demonstrates their competency. Two scaffolding activities require CSCS training: Scaffolding –...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Websites (6 Jul 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department has recorded no instances since its establishment in August 2020 to date, where SSL certs for public facing websites remained expired for a period of time.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (6 Jul 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 365, 366, 367, 368, 369, 370 and 371 together. In November 2022, I appointed Dr Andrea Johnson and Mr David Cagney to undertake an independent National Review of State Supports for PhD Researchers. This reflects the objective, under the dedicated Talent Pillar of Impact 2030, Ireland’s national research and innovation strategy, for a consistent...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Reform (6 Jul 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 372 and 373 together. The Research and Innovation Policy Advisory Forum is being established as provided for under Impact 2030, Ireland’s national research and innovation strategy. This Forum reflects international good practice in the development of national R&I systems and forms the final piece of the governance and oversight aspect of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (11 Jul 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 859 and 879 together. The difficulties faced by students in accessing affordable student accommodation is an issue of 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions (11 Jul 2023)

Simon Harris: The CAO is an independent body, its function is to process applications for undergraduate courses and some postgraduate courses on behalf of the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Enquiries regarding the CAO applications process should be addressed to the CAO directly. Neither I nor my Department have a role in the operation of the CAO. The CAO has an Independent Appeals Commission (IAC),...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (11 Jul 2023)

Simon Harris: Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to eligible students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. The Student Grant Scheme provides maintenance grants to eligible undergraduate students pursuing...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (11 Jul 2023)

Simon Harris: The purpose of the Student Grant Scheme is to provide additional assistance where parental income is below a certain threshold, or in the case of independent mature students, where the level of income of the student and his or her spouse warrants additional assistance by way of a grant. For student grant purposes, students are categorised according to their circumstances either as...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (11 Jul 2023)

Simon Harris: The ‘Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025’ sets out new ways of structuring, funding, and promoting apprenticeships to make apprenticeship accessible to employers and learners. The Plan seeks to deliver on a target of 10,000 apprenticeship registrations per annum, across a wide range of programmes, by 2025. The Action Plan is based on feedback from enterprise, the education...