Results 6,901-6,920 of 45,495 for speaker:Simon Harris

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

Simon Harris: I am committed to the progressive implementation of measures to address costs as a barrier to education, within the overall context of Government policy towards costs of living and other relevant strategies including those related to access and participation in education. I have already taken a number of significant steps in this regard, including major changes to the SUSI student...

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

Simon Harris: As of 30 June 2022, there were 38,789 displaced Ukrainian persons in Ireland, approximately 10% of which are in the 18-25 year age cohort, the one that is most likely to engage with the higher education sector while here in Ireland. Last May, I announced the establishment of the National Student and Researcher (NSR) Helpdesk, which would be resourced by experts from the higher education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (7 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: On 4th May I launched the Funding the Future framework which sets out my intention to implement a progressive range of measures to address costs as a barrier to education alongside improving core funding for higher education, in the context of overall Budgetary decision-making. This will include progressive implementation of the Student Grant Review. This review makes a number of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Gender Balance (7 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: The Government’s STEM Education Policy Statement was published in 2017 and targets a 40% increase in the number of females taking STEM subjects for Leaving Certificate, which is critical for driving better participation at third level. Existing programmes to encourage women into STEM careers include Springboard+ and Human Capital Initiative (HCI) Pillar 1. There is a broad range of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (7 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: I can confirm that I recently announced an increase to the amount of the holiday earnings income deduction from €4,500 to €6,552. Students can now earn up to €6,552 during non-term time in 2022 without being concerned that it will affect their eligibility for a student grant in the academic year 2023/2024. The main support available to students is the Student Grant...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (7 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 38 together. More than 8,400 apprentices, over 70% of those delayed by Covid-19, have now progressed with their training. This includes over 700 final year apprentices who were fast-tracked to complete their qualification. The very welcome sustained growth in apprenticeship registrations has compounded Covid-related pressures on access by craft...

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

Simon Harris: Ensuring the health and well-being of the population, including those availing of disability services, is a priority for Government. My Department, in collaboration with the Department of Health, the HSE, professional training bodies and regulators, will continue to explore options to increase the current provision of professionals providing clinical care therapies, in the context of demand...

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

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 60 together. I am committed to the progressive implementation of measures to address costs as a barrier to education, within the overall context of Government policy towards costs of living and other relevant strategies including those related to access and participation in education. I have already taken a number of significant steps in this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (7 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: The ‘Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025’ sets out new ways of structuring, funding, and promoting apprenticeships to make apprenticeship 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. The expansion of apprenticeship across all sectors has widened the...

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

Simon Harris: Following the establishment of my Department, as Minister, I have had a very strong focus on and commitment to ensuring the affordability of higher and further education for all. This is demonstrated by the broad range of initiatives that have been introduced, or are being planned, to support the achievement of this objective over the past two years. Over 43,600 students have already been...

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

Simon Harris: The recently published report by the ESRI, produced in partnership with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY), reports that the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in poorer mental health among young adults. Over the past two years, we have increased mental health supports to acknowledge the significant pressures students are under. Each institution was...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (7 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: I am strongly committed to the development of a larger footprint and a high quality multi-campus environment for South East Technological University (SETU). In that regard, my Department and the Higher Education Authority (HEA) are currently engaging with SETU to advance a number of capital projects. In Waterford, options are being reviewed for campus expansion. In this regard, SETU has...

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

Simon Harris: I am committed to the progressive implementation of measures to address costs as a barrier to education, within the overall context of Government policy towards costs of living and other relevant strategies including those related to access and participation in education. With this in mind, it is important to highlight the very substantial financial support, currently well in excess of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (7 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 72 together. One of the five overarching objectives of the ‘Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025’ is "Apprenticeship for All" so that the profile of the apprenticeship population more closely reflects the profile of the general population. The Plan promotes general access, diversity and inclusion in apprenticeship through targeted...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (7 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: Reckonable income under the Student Grant Scheme is household income from all sources including income from a student’s employment. When assessing reckonable income under the Student Grant Scheme it is the previous year’s income that is assessed. Therefore applications to the awarding authority (SUSI) for the academic year 2022/2023 are assessed based on household income earned...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (7 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: The ‘Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025’ sets out new ways of structuring, funding, and promoting apprenticeships to make apprenticeship 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. The Action Plan is based on feedback from enterprise, the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (7 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: As of 3rdMay 2022 a total of 7,775 applications from 5,067 unique employers had been received for the Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme, representing an engagement of 83.2% (based on 6,088 invitees). The total number of employer applications validated and processed for payment to that date was 5,928, covering a total of 8,785 apprentices and equating to payments totalling €17.57m....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (7 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: The new Atlantic Technological University will play a pivotal role in the strategic development of the West and North West. The constituent Institutes have a strong involvement in craft apprenticeship programmes and are committed to delivering apprenticeship education to meet the skills demands of the region. Apprenticeship training is currently being delivered at phase 4 and phase 6 in...

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

Simon Harris: The matter of health workforce planning and ensuring an appropriate pipeline of qualified healthcare workers within Ireland, is a major priority for my Department. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Strategies (7 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: Last week, I launched ESD to 2030: the Second National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development, together with Ministers Foley and O'Gorman. ESD to 2030 spans the continuum from early learning and care to third level education and research and extends beyond to engage with local communities, the youth sector and enterprise through lifelong learning. It provides a roadmap to ensuring...