Results 6,201-6,220 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (1 Dec 2022)

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: Further and Higher Education (1 Dec 2022)

Simon Harris: As is clear from the actions already taken in Budget 2023, the Government is committed to improving the position of those on PhD stipends, in the context of the resources available and competing needs. With that in mind, as an immediate and tangible relief against the challenges of the rising cost of living, I was pleased to introduce: - a once off payment in 2022 of €500 for PhD...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (1 Dec 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for giving me an opportunity to update the House on the progress which has been made in providing bursaries for the most disadvantaged students. I launched the fourth National Access Plan- a Strategic Action Plan for Equity of Access, Participation and Success in Higher Education in August. This Plan identifies priority groups to support and sets out our vision for how we...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (1 Dec 2022)

Simon Harris: A key principle of the design of the free fees initiative and the SUSI scheme is to encourage progression, that is, to support students in progressing through a chosen course of study from year to year. As a result, students are not typically supported for a repeat period of study or for a different course at the same level. This is to ensure that the limited resources available are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (1 Dec 2022)

Simon Harris: The current Further Education Strategy - Future FET: Transforming Learning - maps the immediate future of further education to 2024.This strategy is very much about positioning and building the capacity of further education institutions for the future, and beyond 2024. Within this strategy, the three key pillars are building skills, fostering inclusion and creating pathways.These pillars...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (1 Dec 2022)

Simon Harris: The South East Technological University was established on 1 May 2022, exactly seven months ago today; and simultaneously, IT Carlow and Waterford IT were dissolved. My Department is committed to continuing to support all of the new TUs in developing their structures and capabilities to deliver on their ambitious agenda for their regions. Exchequer funding has been provided to support...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (1 Dec 2022)

Simon Harris: The decision on whether or not a student is eligible for a student grant is a matter for SUSI, the centralised student grant awarding authority, to determine. If a student considers that they have been unjustly refused a student grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the right one, they may appeal to SUSI in the first instance. As of 20 November 2022, SUSI had received 4,879 appeals...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (1 Dec 2022)

Simon Harris: A key priority for my Department has been to ensure third level education is accessible for everyone. While data is not available on students who do not take up courses, I absolutely recognise that cost has the potential to be a barrier to entry and participation. That is why, as part of the Government's overall response to cost-of-living pressures, I announced a wide-ranging package of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (1 Dec 2022)

Simon Harris: The Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest (TUS) Coonagh Campus Phase 1 project is currently in the procurement phase. Approval to publish the Contract Notice was provided to TUS on 4 August 2022 and further approval to proceed to tender was provided to the University on 1 November 2022. The procurement process is ongoing with the deadline for tender returns currently...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (1 Dec 2022)

Simon Harris: The Ireland/OECD Skills Strategy Project is taking place across four phases, scoping, assessment, recommendations and publication. The project is examining four key areas - governance of the skills ecosystem, lifelong learning, innovation, and balance in the type of skills needed. We are now in the recommendations phase with a final report expected in March 2023. My Department leads...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (1 Dec 2022)

Simon Harris: Section 9 of the Further Education and Training Act 2013 requires SOLAS to submit a further education and training strategy every 5 years to the Minister for approval. The first FET Strategy covered the period 2014-19. The current FET Strategy Future FET, Transforming Learningcovers the period 2020-2024 and includes three core three core pillars of building skills, fostering inclusion, and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (1 Dec 2022)

Simon Harris: The difficulties faced by students in accessing affordable student accommodation is an issue of which Government and I are actively pursuing. We are committed to addressing supply of affordable student accommodation for priority group students attending publicly funded higher education institutions in Ireland. In response to this issue and to increase supply, I brought proposals to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (1 Dec 2022)

Simon Harris: The difficulties faced by students in accessing affordable student accommodation is an issue of which Government and I are actively pursuing. We are committed to addressing supply of affordable student accommodation for priority group students attending publicly funded higher education institutions in Ireland. Fundamentally the challenge is one of supply of housing more generally. As a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (1 Dec 2022)

Simon Harris: The College of the Future Major Projects Fund will support the implementation of the vision set out in the Further Education Strategy. During a recent visit to Galway earlier this week, I was very pleased to announce that Galway Roscommon ETBs strategic proposal to develop a Further Education College in Galway city was successful in the first stage of the assessment process under the FET...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (1 Dec 2022)

Simon Harris: In response to the ongoing cost of living pressures, as part of Budget 2023, I have secured a significant cost-of-living package for third level students. The cost-of-living package, to take effect before the end of 2022, includes -a one-off state financial support of €1,000 towards the undergraduate student contribution fee for higher education students eligible for the free fees...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research and Development (1 Dec 2022)

Simon Harris: Earlier this month, I indicated in Dáil Éireann that my Department will prepare a submission for Government to consider joining CERN. I expect to ask Government to consider the next approach in 2023. Two types of CERN membership are possible – full membership and associate membership. Associate membership has been recommended by the CERN Ireland Users Group, by a Joint...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (1 Dec 2022)

Simon Harris: The Operational Guidelines Working Group (OGWG) is an internal working group formed under the auspices of Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI). The terms of reference for the group are to review the operational guidelines for Community Training centres (CTCs), Specialist Training Provision (STP) and Local Training Initiatives (LTIs) within the FET sector. In establishing the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (1 Dec 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 120 and 155 together. The College of the Future Major Projects Fund will support the implementation of the vision set out in the Further Education Strategy. During a recent visit to Kerry last weel, I was very pleased to announce that Kerry ETBs proposal for a FET College of the Future in Killarney, which envisages the repurposing of an existing factory site,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (1 Dec 2022)

Simon Harris: My Department is committed to the continued roll-out of supports and targeted initiatives to tackle educational disadvantage and support equity of access, participation and success in both further and higher education. The new National Access Plan (NAP) was launched in August and it aims to support inclusion and diversity in our student body. It recognises the needs of vulnerable...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (1 Dec 2022)

Simon Harris: My Department is strongly committed to supporting the mental health and wellbeing 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 mental health services. In this context, the Department is engaging on an ongoing basis with the Department of Health, the Department...