Results 2,841-2,860 of 45,291 for speaker:Simon Harris

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Third Level Education (18 Jan 2024)

Simon Harris: On Deputy Durkan's question, we will liaise with industry in terms of our regional skills forums. This is the mechanism that has been looked at by other countries with a degree of interest. We have, in every region in Ireland, a regional skills forum. They bring together the colleges, ETBs, universities and employers in the region to look at what is needed in the south west or Dublin, for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (18 Jan 2024)

Simon Harris: Well, of course, they are not the facts, because the facts show me-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (18 Jan 2024)

Simon Harris: I am not doing this.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (18 Jan 2024)

Simon Harris: I am not doing this. I am not doing this shouting. If interest was measured in decibels, you would win the contest every time, but we do not need to shout and roar at each other. You asked me a question and I am going to answer it. You might listen. In the Cork training centre alone, there are 484 apprentices. In Munster Technological University, which is in Cork, there are 160. In...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (18 Jan 2024)

Simon Harris: No, hang on. You cannot stand up in Dáil Éireann as a representative of the people of Cork and tell them there are only a certain number of people in a programme when there are not.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (18 Jan 2024)

Simon Harris: Just stop. You are picking and choosing one phase in one programme.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (18 Jan 2024)

Simon Harris: Today, I will send the Deputy the number of apprentices in Cork. I will send it to him. I will send it to the Ceann Comhairle and we can all tell the truth in this place.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (18 Jan 2024)

Simon Harris: You do not need to send me my own figures. I have them.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (18 Jan 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach. I will do that for Deputy Gould today. I will acknowledge the number of apprentices that are in Cork, or for anyone else who wants the figures relating to their constituency. There are more than ever before in this country. There are more than ever before. These are record numbers. There is an issue with waiting times, which is what this...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (18 Jan 2024)

Simon Harris: I should also say that I will get back to Deputy Mairéad Farrell with specific information on the breakdown of the programmes. I am happy to provide that.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Further and Higher Education (18 Jan 2024)

Simon Harris: It is my priority in 2024 to continue to drive down the cost of education. I am pleased that the Government and the Fine Gael political party have managed to reduce fees for more than 96,000 students for two years in a row now. This is putting €1,000 back in the pockets of families right across the country. I want to see more progress in relation to that. I want to continue to see...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Further and Higher Education (18 Jan 2024)

Simon Harris: I am looking forward to visiting Carlow College with Deputy Murnane O'Connor shortly. I thank both Deputies for raising this important issue. My understanding is that very good progress was made on agreeing the grades. I hope I did not suggest it, but this is not to suggest that the work an adult education tutor does is similar to another job. It is aligning the terms and conditions with...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Further and Higher Education (18 Jan 2024)

Simon Harris: I join with the Deputy in sending my condolences to the family of Lorcan McNamee and I understand from Deputy Harkin’s contribution the important contribution that he made in regard to adult education tutors. May he rest in peace. The proposal was for an increment to be awarded following the completion of 1,043 contact hours, rather than on the completion of 52 weeks worked. As I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (18 Jan 2024)

Simon Harris: I particularly thank Deputy Burke for arranging the very useful meeting that I had recently in regard to the SOLAS and ETB provision in Bishopstown, Cork. I found it very insightful to hear from people on the front line and thank those people working on the provision of apprenticeships for that work. Apprenticeship waiting times refer to individuals and the length of time that they are...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Education and Training Boards (18 Jan 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for asking the question and raising this issue with me on a number of occasions. I thank him for being good and honourable enough to acknowledge other people like Councillor Moegie Maher, Senator Dolan and others who have worked on this. I acknowledge that everybody from Roscommon in this House has come together to try to make progress on this and to work very closely...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Education and Training Boards (18 Jan 2024)

Simon Harris: I agree with everything the Deputy said. I do not want this to drag on either. I obviously cannot be site-specific because of the process that needs to be gone through, but if I am asked whether I want to see apprenticeship provision in County Roscommon and want to help GRETB and SOLAS make that happen as a matter of urgency, I can say that I do. Right across the country, we are...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Education and Training Boards (18 Jan 2024)

Simon Harris: I give the Deputy my word that I will keep a very close eye on this and take an active interest in providing apprenticeship places in Roscommon, working with the Deputy and Oireachtas colleagues. The Deputy is correct when he talks about mechanics. I was out recently at an event. The AA has an upskilling and reskilling workshop because the mechanic of today needs a very different skill set...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Further and Higher Education (18 Jan 2024)

Simon Harris: I acknowledge that this is an issue the Deputy has championed and highlighted in this House for a long time. She has raised it on a number of occasions, including at Leaders' Questions. I acknowledge that. It is also an issue that has been dragging on for too long. I know that is very much the conviction of the adult education tutors and those who represent them. They play a central role...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Third Level Education (18 Jan 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for the vote of confidence in me. This is a very important issue for his constituent and I will certainly take it up with the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly. I need to be clear for the record of the House. The initiative I am talking about has not yet commenced. It is commencing from September. We are not currently funding those places for students in Northern...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Further and Higher Education (18 Jan 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising an important point. As we all know, Ireland has one of the highest participation rates in third level education in Europe. Every year, the Higher Education Authority conducts a survey of graduates nine months after graduation. Over 70,000 graduates from the class of 2022 completed the survey to provide a really good picture of what graduates are doing in...