Results 3,241-3,260 of 45,291 for speaker:Simon Harris

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 provision of funding to increase the supply of purpose-built student accommodation. I have to date secured Government approval of up to €61m in...

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

Simon Harris: Currently, Phase 2 Pipe fitting training is delivered in Cork ETB and LMETB by two instructors. Phase 4 is currently delivered in LMETB and there is currently one workshop with one instructor delivering the training. As the Co-ordinating Provider for the apprenticeship, the NAO and SOLAS are actively engaging with the Collaborating Providers and employers of pipe fitting apprentices to...

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

Simon Harris: In Budget 2024, I am once again providing a significant package of measures to support students and made it a priority to reduce the cost of third level education. I acknowledge that cost is a barrier to education and I am continuing to break down that barrier and make further and higher education more accessible for more people. For the second year in a row, I have reduced the student...

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

Simon Harris: Since last November I have secured Government approval of up to €61m in funding to unlock the development of approximately 1,000 new and additional student accommodation beds across four universities. These projects are being progressed as immediate response measures to unlock supply of affordable accommodation in partnership with our University sector. This measure is being...

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: The issue of academic career precarity is and will remain an important element of the work of my Department. As announced in the recent Budget, an additional €193 million in funding is being provided over 2023 and 2024 to the Higher Education sector. This includes some €60m under the Funding the Future policy framework to build capacity and to ensure the sector is funded...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Budget 2024 (19 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: In Budget 2024, I am once again providing a significant package of measures to support students. Cost should never be a barrier when it comes to education. It should never be a barrier to someone reaching their full potential or pursuing their goals and getting to where they want to in life. For the second year in a row, I have reduced the student contribution fee by €1,000 for...

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

Simon Harris: The Climate Action Plan 2023 provides for an actionable response to support and accelerate the design, development and implementation of apprenticeships meeting green skills needs for the future. Development of transferable green skills for life, through to specific skills requirements for emerging green sectors of the economy including Near Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB)/ retrofit, offshore...

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

Simon Harris: The impact that the cost of living is having on our apprentices continues to be a concern. For my part, in addition to the more broad measures taken by this government, apprentices will specifically benefit from funding of €3.8m for a one-third reduction in the Apprenticeship Student Contribution Fee for those attending Higher Education Institutions in the 2023/24 academic year. This...

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

Simon Harris: The Deputy will be aware that Budget 2024 contains a package of measures to support households with the cost of living. These include a number of measures targeted at further and higher education students and their families. These include:A €1,000 reduction in the student contribution fee for higher education students eligible for the free fees initiative;An increase to the...

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

Simon Harris: There are no restrictions on the number of apprentices that can be registered each year, as the system is demand-led. The current buoyant labour market and 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 apprenticeship...

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 accessible to employers and learners. The ambitions of the Plan spans both financial and non-financial measures. Significant financial supports to employers that have been introduced include:The annual Employer Grant of €2,000 per...

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

Simon Harris: Galway Roscommon ETBs (GRETB) strategic proposal is to develop a new state-of-the-art FET campus on a site adjacent to its Mervue Training facility. The aim of the proposal is to not only facilitate the strengthening of Further Education and Training provision in Galway City but also in the wider region due to its close proximity to the training centre in Mervue, the Atlantic Technological...

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 €300 million over the decade 2018-2027. Available funding has increased from €5.5 million in 2018 to €17.5 million in 2020...

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

Simon Harris: The tertiary education and training system is designed to ensure that learners and graduates are enabled to flourish, both here in Ireland and abroad. Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) not only works to ensure the quality and integrity of national awards but also that those awards are, and remain, recognised internationally. The existing International Education Strategy highlights...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Budget 2024 (19 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: Through Budget 2024, I am continuing to invest in our apprenticeship system. Apprenticeships have a crucial role to play in meeting Ireland’s skills needs now and into the future, and significantly contribute to meeting the Government’s commitments on Housing for All, and the Climate Action Plan. An additional core €67m investment will help to grow the apprenticeship...

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: Budget 2024 (19 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: In November 2022, I appointed Dr Andrea Johnson and Mr David Cagney to undertake an independent National Review of State Supports for PhD Researchers. In their first report, the Co-Chairs recommended an increased stipend toward an optimum level of €25,000, subject to funding availability. Under Budget 2024, I am increasing the PhD stipends provided by the competitive funding...

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

Simon Harris: It is this Government’s ambition to right-size apprenticeship capacity in line with labour market demands, the ambitions of the Action Plan for Apprenticeship, and in support of Government objectives under Housing For All, retrofitting, and green skills. As a demand-led system, there are no restrictions on the number of apprentices that can register. The apprenticeship system is...

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 agriculture, engineering, technology skills, logistics, and fintech. It will also support skills...