Results 3,221-3,240 of 45,291 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Surveys (19 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: I firmly believe that learners should be enabled to flourish, personally and professionally, during their studies and afterwards. Achievement of this vision requires hearing from learners themselves, a need first set out in the National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030 which recommended that institutions establish student feedback mechanisms. The Student Survey collects information...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (19 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: I am actively prioritising the supply and affordability of student accommodation, in recognition of the challenges our students are facing. Through “Housing for All”, the Government has approved development of policy and funding to increase the supply of student accommodation. I have to date secured Government approval of up to €61m in funding to unlock the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (19 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: The National Development Plan (NDP) published in 2021 provided clarity on Departmental capital ceilings for the period 2022 – 2025. A dedicated capital envelope was established for the Further Education and Training (FET) sector, amounting to €300m over the decade 2018-2027. Available funding has increased from €5.5 million in 2018 to €17.5 million in 2020 and a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Staff (19 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 99, 106, 111 and 145 together. In November 2022, I commissioned an independent National Review of State Supports for PhD Researchers; the first time that this issue has been considered holistically in this manner. In their first report, published in June, the Co-Chairs recommended an increase towards an optimum stipend level of €25,000,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (19 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: In February 2022, my Department launched the Strategic Infrastructure Upgrade Fund (SIUF), to support smaller-scale investments in existing FET infrastructure, ensuring that works are progressed within the context of an overall strategic plan for the building and aligned with FET College of the Future principles. ETBs were invited to submit up to two priority proposals under the scheme. Cork...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (19 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy may know, this is something my Department has been examining over a number of years and we have taken a number of steps to respond to the cost of Graduate Entry Medicine. For example, the State subsidy to Higher Education Institutions towards the cost of provision for EU student places has increased. In the academic year 21/22, the state contribution was €11,950 per...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (19 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: In November last year, I indicated in Dáil Éireann that my Department will prepare a proposal for Government to consider joining CERN. Since then, Officials from my Department have been working with CERN to prepare an application for Ireland's associate membership of CERN. I have significant progress to announce as last week funding for CERN associate membership was included in my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (19 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department and I are actively working to address the supply of affordable student accommodation through the development of a number of Government supported policy responses as outlined under Housing for All. As the Deputy is aware, SETU Waterford campus is the only on-campus provision of purpose built student accommodation in the Technological University (TU) sector, providing 426...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (19 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: I am assuming that the Deputy is referring to Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM). Graduate entry courses require applicants to hold a level 8 qualification prior to entry and completion of a graduate entry medicine degree confers a further level 8 qualification. The Student Grant Scheme provides funding support for eligible first time undergraduate students. Students pursuing a second level 8...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (19 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: Ireland’s goals in relation to digital skills were designed in line with the European Digital Decade, and are set out in our Harnessing Digital Strategy. I am pleased to say we are not only meeting but exceeding our targets. In the first instance we are excelling in the provision of highly skilled ICT graduates to support a digitised economy and maintain Ireland’s...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Programme for Government (19 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: Lifelong Learning could not be more important as we leverage continued alterations in how we live and work in the face of megatrends such as digitisation and the green transition for a sustainable economy. This focus is underpinned by the OECD Report on Ireland's Skills Strategy published on 9 May this year. That report highlighted the need for increased focus on short, flexible and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (19 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department is focused on aligning planning within the higher education sector with the workforce requirements and skills needs of the country. Our approach to addressing these challenges is firmly rooted in collaborative partnership with enterprise and other stakeholders and is central to our economic and social ambitions. Planning for current and future public sector workforce and skills...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (19 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department have a number of measures in place to make education more accessible for parents returning or continuing education. One of the priorities for Budget 2024 and for the Taoiseach is reducing child poverty. From September 2024 a part-time fee grant scheme will provide support for eligible students who are undertaking specified undergraduate part-time programmes leading to a major...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (19 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: Higher education institutions are autonomous bodies, as set out in legislation, and as such the management of their academic affairs, including the awards offered, are a matter for each individual institution. Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), in its role as the state agency responsible for promoting quality and accountability in education and training in Ireland, is currently...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (19 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: I am actively prioritising the supply and affordability of student accommodation, in recognition of the challenges our students are facing. Through “Housing for All”, the Government has approved development of policy and funding to increase the supply of student accommodation. I have to date secured Government approval of up to €61m in funding to unlock the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (19 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: One of the five overarching objectives of the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 is "Apprenticeship for All". That is, ensuring that the profile of the apprenticeship population more closely reflects the profile of the general population. The Plan promotes general access, diversity, and inclusion in apprenticeship by offering targeted supports to encourage participation from...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (19 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: Ensuring a supply of qualified vets is an important issue for me and my Department. Officials in my Department have been engaging closely with colleagues in Minister McConalogue's Department in relation to these graduate supply requirements. A number of institutions put forward proposals, following the recent HEA Expression of Interest process, outlining options for the expansion of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (19 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: Being demand-led in nature, there are no restrictions on the number of apprentices that can be registered. The current buoyant labour market, coupled with the recognition of apprenticeship as a valuable employment and skills development opportunity, is a welcome endorsement of this Government’s support of, and ambitions for, Apprenticeships in the tertiary sector The ‘Action...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (19 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: The ‘Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025’ sets out new ways of structuring, funding, and promoting apprenticeships to make apprenticeship more accessible to employers and learners. Expansion to date has widened the impact of apprenticeship to areas of skills shortage such as engineering, technology skills, logistics, and fintech. The ambition of the Plan is to reach 10,000...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Strategies (19 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department is currently finalising work in relation to its new Statement of Strategy, which I expect to be published shortly. During March and April of this year, my Department engaged in a public and stakeholder consultation exercise, where submissions and representations on the development of a new Statement of Strategy were invited. The Department received 84 such submissions through...