Results 2,961-2,980 of 45,495 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: If the Deputy would like to write to me with any specific examples of what she feels are reannouncements-----
- 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 would really appreciate it because I am fed up with the generalities here. My Department is working extraordinarily hard on making real and positive impacts as regards pathways for education. A big part of what we do is communicating with citizens, often citizens who have been locked out of education. We will continue to communicate with them. I wish to be clear in that regard. ...
- 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, hang on. They asked for this grant.
- 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: What the universities are saying is that we should do this. If I told this committee today that we were going to build purpose-built student accommodation in the regions, which we are, by the way, the Deputy's next comment would be that this would take a significant time, which would be fair to say because we do not have the designs or the planning permission yet. In the interim, we are...
- 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.