Results 5,541-5,560 of 45,373 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research and Development (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department currently has a number of initiatives which improve the interface between the wider research community and Government. I was pleased to launch Impact 2030, Ireland’s Research and Innovation Strategylast May 2022. This is Ireland’s new, whole-of-Government research and innovation (R&I) strategy and it addresses Ireland’s social, economic and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Reviews (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department has begun a national review of State supports for PhD researchers. In this regard, I was pleased to appoint Dr Andrea Johnson and David Cagney as Co-Chairs for the review. It is anticipated that key stakeholders will be consulted as part of the review including, importantly, those representing PhD research students. It is anticipated that this will take place over the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Reviews (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department has begun a national review of State supports for PhD researchers. In this regard, I was pleased to appoint Dr Andrea Johnson and David Cagney as Co-Chairs for the review. It is anticipated that key stakeholders will be consulted as part of the review including, importantly, those representing PhD research students. It is anticipated this will take place over the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: The tradition of apprenticeship in Ireland pre-dates the foundation of the State. The current apprenticeship system has its roots in the 2013 Review of Apprenticeship Training in Ireland which set out the continued benefits of a system which combines workplace learning in an enterprise with classroom based learning in an education or training setting. It also set out the need to expand...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Reviews (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: Impact 2030, Ireland’s Research and Innovation Strategywhich I was pleased to launch in May of 2022 prioritises the nurturing and development of talent and excellence to build on Ireland’s reputation as an Island of Talent and a location for research excellence and impact. The quality of our researchers is fundamental to the quality of our research system and its collaboration...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: The information requested by the Deputy was only available from 2014 to 2021 from the student records system (SRS) in the HEA by field of study and a breakdown by Higher Education Institution. The number of graduates is contained in a spreadsheet at the link.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: International Bodies (14 Feb 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. In order to ensure appropriate due diligence, this proposal for Government can be expected by the third quarter of 2023. Officials from my Department are now liaising with CERN regarding the total cost of membership, the application process and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Mental Health Policy (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: The mental health and well-being of students is a priority for my Department. My Department has progressed a number of initiatives, in partnership with the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), over the last number of years to address the mental health and well-being issues faced by students in higher education. My Department provided a comprehensive...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: The Programme for Government commits the Department of Health to working with the education sectors, regulators, and professional bodies to improve the availability of health professionals and reform their training to support integrated care across the entire health service. Currently, six higher education institutes (HEIs) have accredited programmes providing professional...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: At present, the student grant scheme is targeted at full-time students. Courses that are part-time, less than two years in duration, conducted online or as distance courses or which lead to a special purpose or distance award are not currently approved for the purposes of the Student Grant Scheme. However, I have been consistent in my position that we need to develop our student support...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: The CAO data regarding the number of accepted offers requested by the Deputy was sourced from the CAO website: www.cao.ie/index.php?page=mediapack&bb=mediastatsThi s data is from 2019 to 2021, and is contained in the spreadsheet at the link. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are autonomous and manage their own academic affairs including admissions procedures. The CAO process...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (14 Feb 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. The Plan seeks to deliver on a target of 10,000 apprenticeship registrations per annum, across a wide range of programmes, by 2025. We are making significant progress in realising the ambition of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 93, 98 and 99 together. The Higher Education Authority has completed the first stage of an expression of interest process for Higher Education Institutions interested in building capacity in Dentistry, Pharmacy, Medicine, Nursing, and Veterinary. The second stage of this process has now commenced with the recent announcement by the Higher Education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: It is a matter for the governing body of any higher education institution as to where it seeks to strategically position that institution on the higher education landscape. Dundalk Institute of Technology is understood to be currently pursuing a trajectory to achieve technological university (TU) status in accordance with the requirements of the Technological Universities Act 2018. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I want to assure the Deputy that my Department is aware of the continuing need to provide appropriate training and development opportunities with a view to supporting the inclusion of students with additional care needs in education. I believe the Deputy is aware of the current pilot national on-line training programme for Special Needs Assistants (SNAs), a major educational initiative, which...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: The number of students classified as new entrants studying health and welfare related programmes in higher level education in 2021/2022 academic year was 6,855. This data was sourced from the HEA statistics website hea.ie/statistics/data-for-download-and-visualisations/acces s-our-data/access-our-data-students/ Ensuring an appropriate pipeline of suitably qualified professionals in key...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department has engaged with officials in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on a number of initiatives and groups which targets skills in the construction sector. There has been a marked increase in craft apprentice registrations over the past 4 years. In 2022, there were 8,286 total apprenticeship registrations – somewhat down on the 2021 high of 8,607 but an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: Apprenticeships are employer led demand-driven educational and training programmes that aim to develop the skills of an apprentice in order to meet the needs of industry and the labour market. As apprentices are employees the demand for and number of apprentices is primarily dictated by the employer base in any area or sector. As of end Dec 2022, there were 8,286 registrations (6,299...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pension Provisions (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: The Department of Education administers pension schemes on a shared service basis for DFHERIS, and I am advised that officials from that Department have engaged with MTU on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: Inclusion is one of the core strategic goals for the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. A key ambition is to ensure that supports and opportunities are provided for learning to all. I want the tertiary education system to develop and grow its supports for vulnerable learners, autistic students, learners with disabilities, under-represented groups and...