Results 2,761-2,780 of 45,291 for speaker:Simon Harris
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)
Simon Harris: We do not yet know. To be clear, the universities asked for the devolved grant. I can think of one example in Mayo, not too far from the Deputy, where there is an old barracks site that could be put to good use.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)
Simon Harris: If the Deputy asked the universities how many vacant buildings they have on campus, that is a very limited question.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)
Simon Harris: It is about properties in their communities. We are now putting out a call for proposals. We are asking the technological universities in particular what they believe they can do.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)
Simon Harris: Eurostat already conducted an analysis in respect of our institutions in advance of the Higher Education Authority Act 2022. I do not believe we are waiting on another piece from Eurostat.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)
Simon Harris: That is a conversation we can have with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. There is a question as to how much appetite the State has for taking debt onto the balance sheet.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)
Simon Harris: No, it has not.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)
Simon Harris: However, to be clear, as I said on Friday, I believe we should not necessarily tie ourselves to any one method of helping. For example----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)
Simon Harris: We could well decide that the best way is the devolved grant for vacant buildings. The borrowing framework is already legislated for in the Technological Universities Act 2018. I believe it is now-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)
Simon Harris: -----a policy decision for the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)
Simon Harris: I am not aware of any outstanding work from Eurostat.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)
Simon Harris: There is currently no proposal from the Government as to moving their borrowing off balance sheet. The question is whether we will allow them to access the State's borrowing framework.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)
Simon Harris: That is our question.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)
Simon Harris: No.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)
Simon Harris: Yes, that is right. A number of mechanisms have now been made available to universities through such bodies as the Housing Finance Agency and the European Investment Bank.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)
Simon Harris: The Deputy may be aware of them but sometimes people following proceedings at home might not be as aware as the Deputy is.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)
Simon Harris: I am sure it is.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)
Simon Harris: I am very clear that we are not planning any Eurostat review on this issue.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)
Simon Harris: There is no proposal for a review by Eurostat or the CSO. The issue now is a policy matter for the Government as to how it wishes our technological universities to access resources to build student accommodation. One way could be to allow them access to the borrowing framework. That had been the traditional way the technological universities were expecting to go. At a very useful meeting...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)
Simon Harris: It is a fair question but what we are trying to get them to do by the end of March is to flesh out the projects that are there and to let us know what they believe they can do. Many of them have quite detailed plans.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)
Simon Harris: If they do not, we will certainly work with them, but my sense is that we will be getting a flurry of applications and interest, rather than a dearth.