Results 41,821-41,840 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Technological Universities (21 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: We know what the map of Ireland looks like. Every single application that has come to me for a technological university has now been delivered on, but we have had challenges. We do not need a history lesson on how we get over that DkIT issue and how we deliver a university of scale for the north east and all the good opportunities that will come from that. I need to say at the outset...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Technological Universities (21 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: I agree with everything Deputy O'Dowd says, but I stand here thinking that there are reasons to be excited and hopeful now about the future of DkIT. I congratulate the new president and thank him for the proactivity he is bringing to this. We need to bring this to finality. We also need to provide that little bit of space. The staff in DkIT and in Maynooth University have been informed by...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Technological Universities (21 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: I am determined to work with Deputy Ó Murchú on the PA issue and to make progress on it. I thank him for the constructive way in which we have engaged on that. In relation to any potential strategic decisions DkIT may or may not make in the future, I am not going to give a view on it today because I think it would be unfair and disrespectful to their autonomy and to the process in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Student Accommodation (21 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Murnane O'Connor very much for raising this issue and for working with me on the delivery of the South East Technological University, SETU, which benefits Carlow, and also issues relating to Carlow College, which I know she is very passionate about and on which I am very committed to working with her. We want to see more college-owned student accommodation. It is so...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Student Accommodation (21 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: I have a couple of points to make. I thank Deputy Murnane O'Connor for all her work. Only last month my Department gave approval to SETU to purchase a site, which will provide an access route to SETU's currently owned site of 4.7 acres. That is quite an important position. Any integration of Carlow College into an autonomous higher education institution remains in the first instance a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Student Accommodation (21 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: I would like to send the Deputy a detailed note on the borrowing framework.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Student Accommodation (21 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: I will not do it justice in this time. We need to win the argument and build up enough confidence in allowing people to access State balance sheets and borrowing. The place to start is on the issue of student accommodation and showing proof of concept through that. I will send the Deputy a detailed note on that. Carlow College is trying to give an incredible gift to the people of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Further and Higher Education (21 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Wynne for this question. I look forward to visiting County Clare shortly. I hope to do so in the next month. Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board, LCETB, provides a broad range of further education and training options at levels 1 to 6, including literacy, community education, post-leaving certificate courses, Youthreach, training for the employed and the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Further and Higher Education (21 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: I am excited about the new tertiary degrees. We have set up a national tertiary office. There are now 23 degrees which can be accessed by starting in further education with a guarantee of being able to complete it in higher education. Nobody cares or asks what points you got in the leaving certificate. You are assessed on your suitability in different ways, such as interviews and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Further and Higher Education (21 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: I am happy to explore that idea with Deputy Wynne and to have a meeting with the relevant stakeholders. The proposal needs to come through various education and training boards, universities and others. I see huge potential when it comes to renewable energy and offshore wind. Often, we talk about climate in terms of all the challenges it poses, which it does - it is the biggest crisis the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (21 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: It is a pity we will not have much time for this question. I am sure we will return to it again. The apprenticeship system is responding to a marked increase in demand over the past four years. For the reasons the Deputy has mentioned, we need more people working in the trades. We estimate that we need 50,000 more people working in construction by 2030 and 17,000 more in retrofitting....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (20 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: A postgraduate fee contribution of €4,000 or a postgraduate fee grant, up to a maximum of €6,270 towards the cost of fees plus a maintenance grant is available to Postgraduate students pursuing an approved course. This is dependent on the level of a student's reckonable income. To receive the Postgraduate fee grant plus a maintenance grant, students must meet the criteria...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (20 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: In considering the matters raised it is important to note that the total level of fees charged to Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) students is a matter for the higher education institutions (HEIs), consistent with the principle of their institutional autonomy. The State contribution under reference is a funding subsidy provided, via the HEA, to HEIs towards the cost of provision for EU student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (20 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1051, 1064 and 1066 together. The apprenticeship system provides a real and substantive career pathway for first time learners, it allows them to ‘earn while they learn’ whilst also combining practical hands on training with classroom learning.To date, the programmes on offer through this model have expanded to address areas of skills...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (20 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: Currently, Phase 2 Pipefitting training is delivered in Cork ETB and LMETB by two instructors. Phase 4 is currently delivered in LMETB and there is currently one workshop with one instructor delivering the training. As of August 2023, the total population of Pipefitting apprentices is 329, 327 of whom are and 2 of whom are female.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (20 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: During the pandemic, when ETB training centres were closed, some apprentices moved to online learning for theory elements of their programme only. It was not possible to deliver practical training on any apprenticeship at that time as it requires the use of in-person instruction and the use of a workshop. Craft apprenticeship programmes work through integrated theory and practical...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (20 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: Work is under way to increase the level of training capacity across the apprenticeship system. In addition, an accelerated on-the-job process to reduce time gaps between off-the-job and on-the-job phases to assist with apprenticeship progression towards qualification is being implemented. At this stage it is not possible to provide a timeline for completion, but it is a priority to further...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (20 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: The development of further training capacity is being prioritised. We will continue to monitor the National Waiting Lists against apprentices currently waiting to be called to their Phase 4, off-the-job training? Where an apprentice is, through no fault of their own, delayed in training, they can avail of a higher off-the-job training allowance while training. For example, an apprentice...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (20 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: Under the terms of the student grant scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students on full-time courses who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those which relate to nationality, residency, approved course, previous academic attainment and means. With regard to the specific application, I have been advised by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the position in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Schemes (20 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: Article 24(6) of the Student Grant Scheme 2023 provides that gifts or inheritances received in the reference period are included as reckonable income. An applicant can, however, re-apply for subsequent years of their study as the inheritance amount is taken into account for one year only. If any of the persons whose income is under consideration received a gift or an inheritance in the...