Results 41,901-41,920 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (21 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: In recognising the challenges facing our higher education students in accessing affordable supply of accommodation Government approved a new policy led by my Department, to provide State assistance to stimulate the development of new and additional student accommodation. This landmark policy response will, for the first time, see the State providing financial support in the construction of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (21 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: I recognise that third level education can be a significant cost for families and students. The main financial support available to students is the Student Grant Scheme. The means-tested Scheme is administered by SUSI on behalf of my Department. Under the Scheme, "holiday earnings", that is income that a student has earned outside of term time in the previous tax year, can be deducted...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (21 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department and the Department of Health have made significant progress in providing additional places on healthcare programmes. This year, 460 additional places were created in healthcare programmes, including key therapeutic disciplines. This represents meaningful additionality within existing infrastructure in the Higher Education sector. This follows on from the work of the working...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (21 Sep 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: Grant Payments (21 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: Assessment of means under the Student Grant Scheme 2023 is based on gross income from all sources, of the dependent applicant and his/her parents. No deduction is given for outgoings with the exception of pension contributions, legally enforceable maintenance payments and employment related expenses as approved by Revenue. The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (21 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: The main support available to assist 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 and means. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (21 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 296, 299, 301 and 302 together. Ensuring an appropriate pipeline of suitably qualified graduates is a key priority for me and my Department. Officials from my Department have been engaging extensively with the Higher Education Authority and the higher education sector to identify where additional places can and should be provided in the higher education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (21 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: There are a small number of institutions who have courses tailored specifically for students with an intellectual disability. I have visited some of the institutions who run these courses and have met with a number of students this year who are either current or past pupils. However, I am acutely aware that the level of provision is not enough and needs to be increased. The fourth...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (21 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: The tertiary education system plays a central role in ensuring that our graduates from higher education, further education and training and from apprenticeship are equipped with the cognitive skills, the essential transversal skills, and the vocational and professional skills and competencies which will equip them for success in work and society. Against the backdrop of the accelerating and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (21 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department and I are actively working to address the supply of student accommodation in response to the overall supply and affordability being experienced by our students which is supported by Government approval to develop a number of policy responses to activate supply under Housing for All. I have established a dedicated student accommodation unit in my Department to develop and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (21 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 303 and 307 together. The backlogs in apprentice progression, predominantly at phase-2 off-the-job, has been an area of unrelenting focus for this Government. In August 2021, there were almost 12,000 apprentices awaiting off-the-job training. At the end of August this year, 7,578 apprentices were waiting for off-the-job training. Of these 5,257 apprentices...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (21 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: Improvements to the student grant scheme has been a key priority since becoming Minister and I have already made a number of significant improvements to the Student Grant Scheme benefitting thousands of students. The Budget 2023 package announced last October included an increase to certain qualification thresholds in that:-The threshold for the student contribution 50% grant has been...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (21 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 305 and 306 together. As the Deputy will appreciate, individual institutions are responsible for staffing matters, including the recruitment of lecturers and the management of any vacant lecturing positions.As Minister, I rightly have no direct role in that regard, and, accordingly, my Department does not collect nor have access to any data relating to...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: No, it certainly is not. SETU is already making a hugely positive impact in Waterford. Much to the contrary of some of the Deputy's own public commentary, the Waterford Crystal site will be purchased - that will go to the governing authority very shortly - and the PPP process is very much in hand.

Supplementary Estimates for Public Services 2023: Leave to Introduce (27 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: I move: That leave be given by the Dáil to introduce the following Supplementary Estimate for the service of the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2023: Vote 40 — Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (Supplementary Estimate).

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (26 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: One of the five overarching objectives of the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025is "Apprenticeship for All". That is, ensuring that the profile of the apprenticeship population more closely reflects the profile of the general population. As of end-August 2023, there were 1,982 female apprentices, representing 8% of the overall apprentice population. This compares to 1,321 in April 2021,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (26 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: I have been clear that I want to see the student's contribution towards tuition fees in higher education reduce in a meaningful way over the course of the annual budget process. In this regard I was pleased to secure Government agreement to the introduction of a permanent new rate of student contribution support through SUSI from September 2023. For students whose families have incomes...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Medical Internships (26 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department and the Department of Health are aware of the challenges being encountered for Northern Ireland Medical School graduates meeting deadlines for Internship in Republic of Ireland. I am informed that there has been ongoing engagement with the HSE, Medical Council and Northern Ireland universities to address these issues. I understand from the Department of Health that the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (26 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: Awaiting reply from Department.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (26 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will appreciate, third level institutions are autonomous institutions within the meaning of the Universities Act 1997 and the Technological Universities Act 2018. As such, individual institutions are responsible for student and staffing matters and are subject to compliance with relevant legislation. My Department does not collect nor have access to information regarding the...