Results 6,881-6,900 of 45,495 for speaker:Simon Harris

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Third Level Education (7 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: Following the establishment of my Department, I, as Minister, have tried to place a focus on having an affordable higher and further education system and on what we can do to not only address the sustainable funding of the sector but also to reduce the cost to students and families. This is demonstrated by the broad range of initiatives we have introduced and are planning. For example, more...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Third Level Education (7 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: It is 42%.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Third Level Education (7 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: I accept that there is more we can do. However, I do not accept that everything we have done has been minor. The provision of free laptops has made a substantial difference according to the students I have heard from.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Third Level Education (7 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: Up to 20,000 of the most disadvantaged students will receive them. I presume the Deputy would want me to target the most disadvantaged. A 50% reduction in the cost of public transport is a very big step forward brought in by my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan. We have abolished, in its entirety, the fee for post-leaving certificate courses from September 2022....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Third Level Education (7 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: I would not know about the private education system. The Deputy cannot come into the Chamber and mention figures or anecdotes that are not backed up by facts. He quoted a figure of 30%. I accept that he acknowledges this figure may not be accurate. A lot more than 30% of students received student grants. From my memory, the figure is up to 42%.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Third Level Education (7 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: There is a pretty big difference between 30% and 42%.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Third Level Education (7 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: I will provide them in writing as well as the figure for the number of students who did not complete third level education. I have no evidence, nor did the HEA provide me with any, to suggest an increase in the drop-out rate. We will look at the figures for that. In the context of the cost-of-living pressures that people are facing, which I fully accept is a real issue, it is important...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Third Level Costs (7 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: The Deputy makes a fair point. We introduced a number of measures that she has acknowledged and welcomed. She also made the not unfair point that when a measure is introduced in the budget, a student or indeed anybody has to wait many months or until the next academic year to feel its impact. I am encouraged by the fact that with the publication of the summer economic statement this week...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (7 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: This is an important question on an important issue. We all know that we need to dramatically increase the supply of all types of housing and accommodation. This obviously has a direct impact on students. This is why, when the Government launched the Housing for All policy, which is led by my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O’Brien,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (7 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: There are a couple of elements to this issue. There is what can be done right now, immediately, for September. The factual answer to that is that hundreds more college and student accommodation beds will be open this September compared with last September. Another 674 bed spaces are coming on board through NUI Galway as well later in the college year. We must also be conscious of the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (7 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: I could come in here and bamboozle us with figures, but I do think that would be terribly useful. Under the official student accommodation strategy, we are, from what I can see, either on or ahead of target. Approximately 25,770 bed spaces were either completed, under construction or had planning permission granted at the end of the fourth quarter of 2021. That kind of misses the point...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (7 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: Inclusion is one of the core strategic goals for my Department, and my ambition is to ensure that we provide supports and opportunities for persons with special and additional needs. On the higher education side, I am pleased to report that the target that was set in the last National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education (which covered the period to 2021) to increase participation...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (7 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: A core mission for my Department is to continue to advance efforts to ensure that Ireland offers learning opportunities to all who wish to pursue them on a lifelong basis, provides the right skills and competences to learners to succeed, and produces further and higher education graduates, apprentices and trainees with the right skills to support our economy, society and essential public...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (7 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: With the launch of the Third National Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence Strategy, I have been very clear that the tertiary education and training sector must lead the way in changing cultures, behaviours and practices across society to ensure that bullying and sexual harassment and bullying are not tolerated. There is a particular responsibility on those charged with educating the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (7 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: The principles of universal design for learning (UDL) and inclusive practice are informing strategies and initiatives across the full scope of my Department’s remit. Fostering inclusion is one of the three core pillars of the national Further Education and Training Strategy 2020-2024. SOLAS, Education and Training Boards Ireland and the 16 Education and Training Boards have...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Mental Health Services (7 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: The mental health and well-being of students is a priority for my Department, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic which brought increased stress and anxiety levels for students. My Department has progressed a number of initiatives, in partnership with the Higher Education Authority and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), over the last number of years to address the mental...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ukraine War (7 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: The National Student and Researcher (NSR) Helpdesk is a key element of my Department’s response and is the single national point of contact for all qualified persons seeking to access higher education in Ireland. The Helpdesk has been gathering and assessing all queries made to it to date, allowing the higher education institutions (HEIs) to work with these potential students to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Staff (7 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: I am acutely conscious of the serious concerns as strong inflationary pressures impact on the cost of living for all in our society and communities, including those working in the higher and further education and training sector. The Government's Summer Economic Statement published earlier this week sets out the Government’s budgetary strategy which will seek to protect public...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Staff (7 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: My Department has been undertaking an examination of the issues in relation to the long-standing institutional requirement for PhD students to undertake a range of academic support activities, as part of their postgraduate research studies. This has been done in collaboration with the Irish Universities Association and Technological Higher Education Association and the National Advisory Forum...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Disadvantaged Status (7 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: Adopting a whole-of-education perspective is critical in terms of transitions to further and higher education. Early intervention and early educational experiences are crucial in this regard. My Department, therefore, works collaboratively with the Department of Education applying those principles to support successful transitions to further and higher education, including from DEIS...