Results 6,321-6,340 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy in Education: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: The short answer is that I do, but I always caveat it by saying that training people is only one part of the jigsaw in meeting the needs of the community. It is true that my Department has a role to play, as does the university sector, and the technological universities, but the training of enough people is only one part of the jigsaw.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy in Education: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: The way the Deputy describes the programmes is much better than the way I describe them. That is exactly what it is - it is universal design from a capital point of view in terms of campuses and then universal design in learning. I am going to steal that, if that is okay. That is exactly what we are trying to achieve at phase 1 and phase 2, with phase 1 now under way and phase 2 from next...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy in Education: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: I would never say that. The Deputy can be dogged but I am sure that is a badge of honour. I do not have a note in front of me and I do not want to misrepresent the situation. My understanding, from memory, is that there is due to be some engagement through various fora at the start of next month in regard to the matter. I will confirm this to the Deputy in writing. I am very happy to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy in Education: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputies and I acknowledge the point. The only hope we have of making progress on this vital issue is to pull together. I very much appreciate that is the way in which this committee is doing its work. I have been following its work and I am delighted on a personal and professional level to see the existence of this committee. This all has to come back to joined-up thinking,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy in Education: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: We can certainly look at that. There is a need for everybody to pull together. I will offer two views that are slightly beyond the remit of my Department but I speak as somebody with a real interest in this issue. We have a model that I was involved in when I was in the Department of Health, where we started in-school therapies. It seems to be working quite well in the schools that it has...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy in Education: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: Thank you.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy in Education: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: The short answer is that work is being done. The Chair is right, in that the way to fix this is to train enough people in our own country. I am confident that we will make meaningful progress on that quickly in terms of creating places, but the Chair is also right that it will take a number of years to train that first year student. I am conscious that most of these professions, if not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy in Education: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: It sounds logical that people training in those areas would, if they wished, participate and try to help out in what is an extraordinarily successful programme but one that needs the changes and improvements the Chair is referencing. Obviously, it is a policy decision for the Department of Education, given that it is that Department's programme, but we will engage with the Department on any...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy in Education: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: We will indeed.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (17 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: The funding allocated to the Student Assistance Fund for the years mentioned by the Deputy are attached in tabular format. Academic Year General Student Assistance Fund Part-time Allocation COVID-19/ Cost of Living Funding Professional Masters of Education Funding Total Allocation 2017/2018 €8,100,000 ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (17 Nov 2022)

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 you do not receive a response from SOLAS within 30 days, please do come back to my office for further follow-up.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (16 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Berry for raising the initiative. This is the week that refunds have started flowing into students' accounts, which is the €1,000 refund. We will also see the bonus student grant payment on 16 December, and all student grants rising by between 10% and 14% from January. I will look at the two specific groups the Deputy has referred to. I must point out that this...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (16 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Cannon for raising this issue. The Deputy is so right that there has been huge progress when it comes to further education and training. We are all proud of what happens in that sector but we are not proud of the infrastructure in which people have to operate. As the Deputy has rightly said, GRETB has submitted a very good proposal relating to Mervue in Galway city, beside...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (16 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: Under my Department's Free Fees Initiative, the State pays tuition fees, exclusive of the student contribution, on behalf of eligible students attending approved full-time undergraduate courses. Details of the eligibility criteria are available at the following location: It is the institution attended that will determine, within the terms of the scheme, a student's eligibility for free...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (16 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 150 and 151 together. I note the Deputy’s reference to the UK Government’s awareness campaign on the issue of the prevalence of sexual violence against women and girls, entitled “ENOUGH”. The Deputy will be aware that my colleague, Deputy Helen McEntee TD and Minister for Justice, published the Third National Strategy on Domestic,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Meetings (16 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: I visited County Clare on May 30th 2022. I visited Saint Anne's Community College, Coláiste Muire, College Road, College of FET Ennis Campus,, Scoil Mhuire and the College of FET Kilrush Campus. I intend to visit again later this year.

Science Week: Statements (15 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: I am delighted to have this opportunity to speak during Science Week. I thank the Business Committee for scheduling the debate. I acknowledge that Deputy Naughten specifically sought this debate, which he does on an annual basis. It is a very worthwhile exercise to have such a debate in our national Parliament during Science Week. As we continue to navigate our way through a global...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (15 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: 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 once-off €1,000 state financial support towards the undergraduate student contribution fee for higher education students eligible for the free fees initiative; - A once-off reduction of up to 33% in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions (15 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: The Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) is operated by the Irish Universities Association (IUA) on behalf of the Higher Education Institutions (HEI) who set the policy criteria for the scheme. The IUA has provided a direct response for the Deputy, which I will ask my Department to send to you.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (15 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: The student referred to by the Deputy submitted an appeal to the Student Grant Appeals Board (the Board). This appeal was heard on the 8th November 2022 and the decision of the Appeals Officer in SUSI was overturned. The decision was communicated directly to the student and the appeal is now finalised.