Results 6,381-6,400 of 46,267 for speaker:Simon Harris

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Further and Higher Education (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Connolly for raising this matter. On Thursday, I am due to meet the new director in SOLAS of the further education and training, FET, college of the future. I may have a further update in which case I am very happy to revert to the Deputy post Thursday, but I will exchange what I have with her now. As Deputy Connolly rightly said, Galway and Roscommon Education and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Further and Higher Education (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I visited Galway to make the announcement on 28 November 2022. I appreciate the point that the overall fund was announced. I did not realise it was a year ago today, but there you go. It was 28 November when Galway was officially selected as one of the ten. We have now identified these ten projects. There will be more in the country, but these are the ten we want to proceed in phase 1....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Further and Higher Education (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: Yes.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Further and Higher Education (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: Money has been earmarked. The Deputy should please be impatient, because I am impatient. These ten projects are key to creating a unified tertiary system that will give Galway the last piece of the jigsaw - a traditional university, a technological university and a major modern further education and training college. I accept the Deputy's point about the year. It has been less than...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Student Accommodation (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I assure the Deputy that I have been willing but in fairness to them, I also wish to acknowledge they are up for it too. In fairness to our universities and our technological universities, a lot of them are chomping at the bit to make progress on this. They are all at different stages, which is just a statement of fact and not a value judgment. The six traditional universities have...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Student Accommodation (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I refer to a reply to a previous parliamentary question on the same issue so I can give the Deputy accurate information. In response to a question to the Minister for Finance on the rent credit, the reply said: The intention is that, in order for a person to be in a position to claim the credit in a year: - the rent paid must be in respect of the person’s principal private...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Student Accommodation (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: Where the parent is paying the rent the parent can claim it but the property must be registered with the RTB.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Student Accommodation (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: The rent-a-room scheme is covered but in general, and I presume the Deputy's party would agree with this, it is important that landlords register their properties with the RTB. This is a protection for tenants and is often sought by Members on all sides of the House.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Properties (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Troy for this question and for keeping in touch with me on the issue. I am very committed to making sure we deliver an EV centre of excellence at Columb Barracks, Mullingar. As the Deputy will be aware, I visited there previously. As recently as in the past two weeks, the chief executive of SOLAS visited there also and met the local education and training board, ETB, about...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Properties (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: It is certainly an interesting proposal from Deputy Troy. I share his view that it is appropriate for any space to be handed over in an emergency humanitarian situation, such as these refugees fleeing from Ukraine and for people needing international protection. I am conscious that it is a very large site. I am not a terribly technical person, but I do not see this as seriously...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Third Level Costs (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: Over the past number of years, I have delivered a range of enhancements to the student support scheme to better meet the needs of students and families, and it is only right and proper that we do. Over the course of the past three budgets and, in addition, separate and distinct from the one-off cost of living measures, I have significantly increased the rate of the grant, with the most...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Third Level Costs (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I will say to Deputy Dillon that there are a number of areas in which I want to make progress. There are three in particular, one of which we discussed earlier regarding the income disregard for a student who is working a shift in a pub or hotel at the weekend and who is worried about losing his or her grant. That is something logical on which we can move fairly swiftly. The second...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Third Level Costs (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I will certainly reflect on the issue of paperwork and accessibility and so forth. As the Deputy acknowledged, SUSI staff are working extremely hard as they deal with a huge volume of applications and queries. I will talk to them to make sure it is as user-friendly a system as possible. With regard to that issue of broadening the types of courses that qualify, my first intention would...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Student Accommodation (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I can indeed. I thank Deputy Browne for the question. I will not go through the formal answer because he has heard some of it already. With regard to a straight question regarding DCU, this is something on which I hope to be in a position to make progress within a matter of weeks. I do not want to pre-empt conversations we are having with DCU or get ahead of myself but I acknowledge the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Veterinary Services (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I do not disagree with what the Deputy said. I referenced the EU directive in the context of mutual recognition of qualifications. I am happy to check for the Deputy, but I understand that an accredited place through the Veterinary Council of Ireland is recognised in the North, the UK and the EU, as well as in some other jurisdictions. I can seek clarity on the latter for the Deputy. ...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Student Accommodation (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter repeatedly and for keeping in touch with me in respect of it. I am working actively to address the difficulties faced by students in accessing affordable student accommodation. In recognition of the real challenge, including rising construction costs and the impact of same on the affordability of accommodation, I received Government approval on...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Student Accommodation (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I agree fully with both Deputies. I assure Deputy Dillon that the structured approach makes sense. If there are synergies and we know there is a model that can work for the technological university and get things moving, let us not waste time coming up with a load of different models. You notice when you drive around the country, many new schools are beginning to look the same. That is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Student Accommodation (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I assure the Deputy that I will inquire into the position regarding the old military barracks site in Castlebar to see what the position is and establish if progress can be made. I will familiarise myself further with the matter. He mentioned it to me previously. I will get the view of ATU and the Department. I will be happy to revert to the Deputy on the matter. The Government will...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Third Level Staff (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: To be crystal clear, one of the first acts of the chairs will be to meet with those groups. I will have to check if I have met that group but I have met postgraduate representatives from the Union of Students in Ireland, USI, and a group of postgraduate researchers from Trinity College Dublin who made a strong and compelling case about the need. I am meeting the co-chairs next week. The...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Veterinary Services (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Carthy for his question and note his interest in it as an agricultural spokesperson. I want to get this right. I recognise there are two issues my Department must oversee. One is to make sure there are enough places to meet demand in the country. We have identified veterinary, dentistry, nursing and medicine as areas in which we wish to expand the number of places. We must...