Results 261-280 of 33,693 for speaker:Simon Harris in 'Written Answers'

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

Simon Harris: A key strength of the apprenticeship model is that it is a demand-led employer-driven approach to meeting workforce and skill requirements in our economy. As such, the demand for and number of apprentices is primarily dictated by employers in any sector. New apprenticeship programmes are coming on-stream continuously. These are developed by a consortium of employers and education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (13 Dec 2023)

Simon Harris: The information sought is set out in the following table. Grade Number of Vacancies Secretary General 0 Assistant Secretary 1 Principal Officer 0 Assistant Principal Officer 6 Administrative Officer 4 Professional/Technical ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research and Development (13 Dec 2023)

Simon Harris: On 1 January 2021, responsibility for Ireland's research and innovation (R&I) policy transferred from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to my Department. Following extensive stakeholder consultation, I launched Impact 2030 Ireland’s Research and Innovation Strategy on 18 May 2022. Impact 2030is a Whole-of-Government Strategy and I have provided an electronic...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Early Childhood Care and Education (13 Dec 2023)

Simon Harris: I am advised by my colleague, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth that the figure of 90,000 places delivered related to schemes operated by his Department and its precursor between 2000 and 2019. The availability of high quality early learning and childcare is a key Government priority. My colleague, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (12 Dec 2023)

Simon Harris: Our understanding of the information sought by the Deputy is outlined below. This data was sourced from the Student Records System in the HEA and is contained in the tables below. Undergraduate courses are included in the Free Fees Initiative, the Department does not have information regarding places set aside by HEIs for fee paying students, typically from outside the EU. The Dental Surgery...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Equal Opportunities Employment (12 Dec 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department is committed to increasing inclusion levels for all by providing high-quality, more accessible and flexible education and training options. This inclusive attitude to learning is supported by a new funding stream that I announced in June 2022, with a €12m investment fund over a four year period known as PATH 4 (Programme for Access to Higher Education). Phase 1 was...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (12 Dec 2023)

Simon Harris: As part of Budget 2024 the Government has approved a once off reduction of €1,000 in the student contribution payable by full time undergraduate students eligible for free tuition fees under the Free Fees Initiative (FFI) in academic year 2023/24. Through the FFI, the State has assumed responsibility for compensating institutions for the income previously generated by student tuition...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (12 Dec 2023)

Simon Harris: The Irish College of Humanities and Applied Sciences is a privately funded institution and I have no role or remit in respect of this body. Munster Technological University (MTU) have advised me that the course in question was developed on request from Cuan Mhuire who were expanding their gambling addiction service provision and required education for their counsellors within the context of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (12 Dec 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 865 to 867, inclusive, together. In February 2022, I announced the Technological Sector Strategic Projects Fund (TSSPF) a key capital funding programme which will strengthen the technological sector by supporting additional capacity and delivering core infrastructure improvements including research and innovation activity. This important capital...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (12 Dec 2023)

Simon Harris: My officials and I are working closely with Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to realise our collective ambition for the delivery of Higher Education across the country. Rather than operating from an institution-specific annual distribution, capital projects across the Higher Education sector are identified through competitive processes, with successful projects progressing through the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Policies (12 Dec 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department has made significant changes in the further and higher education, research, innovation and science sectors since its establishment in 2020, and has since seen encouraging progress across these sectors over the past number of years.With 400,000 people enrolled in learning across further and higher education, the Department is responsible for a sizeable sector. Learning outcomes...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (12 Dec 2023)

Simon Harris: I have not been made aware of any plans to develop a new campus on the north side of Cork city. However, my Department is willing to work collaboratively with all higher education institutions and Education and Training Boards on the development of capital projects in line with their established masterplans. My Department is currently supporting a number of key ongoing major capital...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (12 Dec 2023)

Simon Harris: I am pleased to provide the Deputy with the requested table outlining the number of craft apprentices by phase in the Cork region, as of the end of November 2023, is attached. The table also breaks down the numbers by craft programme. As you will see in the table, as of 30 November 2023, the Cork region has a total craft apprentice population of 2,744. This consists of 1,108 apprentices at...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (12 Dec 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 where the information requested is presently being compiled. An answer will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it becomes available.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (12 Dec 2023)

Simon Harris: During 2023, as part of the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025, the National Apprenticeship Office (NAO) began engagement with partners at second level and in further and higher education to explore the development of a Transition Unit (TU) on national apprenticeship options for delivery in Transition Year and with similar age cohorts in other second level settings (Youthreach and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (12 Dec 2023)

Simon Harris: Budget 2024 contains a package of measures to support households with the cost of living. These cost of living measures include the provision of one off funding to reduce the student contribution fee payable by higher education students that are eligible for the free fees initiative (FFI), in academic year 2023/24, by €1,000. In relation to the €1,000 reduction in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Properties (12 Dec 2023)

Simon Harris: I would like to thank the Deputy for this question relating to property or sites in the ownership of the my department, and whether any of them are vacant or derelict. My department does not own any sites or properties which are vacant or derelict. I can confirm that my department does not actually own any properties or sites. I hope this clarifies this matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (12 Dec 2023)

Simon Harris: Ensuring a supply of qualified vets to meet the demands of Ireland's agri-food sector is an important issue for my Department. As you are aware, a number of institutions put forward proposals following the recent HEA Expression of Interest process outlining options for the expansion of existing veterinary medicine provision. A number of the proposals could be regionally impactful,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (12 Dec 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 where the information requested is presently being compiled. An answer will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it becomes available.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (12 Dec 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department has made significant changes in the further and higher education, research, innovation and science sectors since its establishment in 2020, and has since seen encouraging progress across these sectors over the past number of years.With 400,000 people enrolled in learning across further and higher education, the Department is responsible for a sizeable sector. Learning outcomes...