Results 401-420 of 33,693 for speaker:Simon Harris in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (24 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: My officials have engaged with SOLAS who have advised that the information requested is available at ETB level rather than county level. The table below sets out the number of approved PLC places for Kildare and Wicklow ETB for the academic years 2022/23 and 2023/24: Academic Year 2022/23 2023/24 Kildare and Wicklow ETB 1,292 1,292...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (24 Oct 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 for direct reply on this individual matter. If the individual does not receive a response from SOLAS within 30 days, please do come back to my office for further follow-up.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Bodies (24 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: The list of public bodies under the aegis of my Department are as follows: The Higher Education AuthorityIrish Research CouncilGrangegorman Development AgencySOLASSkillnet IrelandQuality and Qualifications IrelandLéargas - The Exchange BureauScience Foundation Ireland The Oireachtas contact details for each of the aegis bodies are provided in the document attached. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Local Government Reform (24 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: In the context of the Local Government Reform Act 2014, no functions under this Department have been devolved in full or in part or are in the in the process of being devolved in full or in part.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Strategies (24 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 in principle of up to €61m in funding to unlock...

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

Simon Harris: I am once again providing a significant package of measures to support students. We acknowledge that cost is a barrier to education and we’re 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 contribution fee by €1,000 for undergraduate students eligible for free...

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

Simon Harris: In recognition of the need to stimulate supply of student accommodation, the Government has supported my Department to develop policy responses to stimulate the development of new and additional student accommodation for public higher education institutions. In November 2022, Government approved investment of €1 million in 2023/2024 to assist our Technological Universities to...

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

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for her question. The Deputy will be aware that Cavan Monaghan ETBs proposal for Cavan Town under the College of the Future Major Projects fund was successful at the first stage of the assessment process. This proposal has moved to the next stage of development, which involves the development of a preliminary business case which is a fundamental part of the public spending...

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

Simon Harris: All higher education institutions, continue to support their students to find accommodation in the private rental sector through, for example, the encouragement of room rental or ‘student digs’ in family homes. This summer I supported an advertising campaign which ran on radio, social media and national press. Central to the messaging is the ability to avail of tax relief under...

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

Simon Harris: My Department is strongly committed to supporting the health of the population through the provision of graduates with the key competencies and skills to be effective in the health workforce, and support a range of clinical teams in our health services. My officials are actively engaging with the Department of Health on determining the longer term skills needs of the healthcare services,...

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

Simon Harris: The expansion of Ireland’s electric vehicle fleet is a key objective in the Climate Action Plan 2023. We have an ambitious target of 30% of our private car fleet having made the switch to electric vehicles by 2030. This development will result in significant new skills requirements. The Expert Group for Future Skills Needs has estimated that the electrification of our private car fleet...

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

Simon Harris: Tá ról ríthábhachtach ag an gcóras ardoideachais i gcur chun cinn na Gaeilge, le raon leathan cúrsaí ar fáil trí Ghaeilge. Léiríonn staitisticí tuairisceáin an HEA don bhliain acadúil seo caite 97 cúrsa a thairgeann Gaeilge mar mhórábhar nó mar mhionábhar, lena n-áirítear iad siúd a...

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

Simon Harris: Since the establishment of this Department, we have made a number of changes to help PhD researchers. The first was to increase the Irish Research Council stipend to match that of Science Foundation Ireland. Then, in Budget 2023, I was pleased to be able to increase the stipend to €19,000 for 2023 for PhD students currently supported by Science Foundation Ireland and the Irish Research...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Staff (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. This reflects the objective, under the dedicated Talent Pillar of Impact 2030, Ireland’s national research and innovation strategy, for a consistent research student experience across funders, institutions and research disciplines. The...

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...