Results 6,941-6,960 of 45,495 for speaker:Simon Harris

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

Simon Harris: The statutory based Student Grant Scheme and Student Support Regulations are reviewed annually by my Department, following consultation with various stakeholders. In particular my Department consults with the Department of Social Protection on an ongoing basis around various support schemes available to students in both Departments. Students in receipt of the Back to Education Allowance...

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

Simon Harris: Apprentices are primarily employees and all of the 65 apprenticeships are subject to a contract of employment. For the majority of apprenticeships, the rate of pay is agreed between the apprentice and the employer. On that basis any review of those rates currently payable is a matter for negotiation and agreement under the appropriate industrial relations structures in place and it would not...

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...

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

Simon Harris: On 2nd June 2022, I announced new initiatives to support autistic students and those with an intellectual disability access higher education. The proposals, which will form part of the proposed new National Access Plan, will allocate ring-fenced funding of €3 million a year to 2025 so higher education institutions can implement universal design and inclusive practices on their...

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

Simon Harris: A new 9,042m2 STEM building is planned for Munster Technological University (MTU) Kerry Campus, under the Higher Education PPP programme, consisting of labs, agri-machinery workshops, classroom spaces and ancillary space. The new STEM building will replace older infrastructure on the South Campus and will increase the capacity of the institution by some 440 students. An entrance upgrade...

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

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for her question on this matter. Tackling sexual violence and harassment in our tertiary education system is and will remain, a key policy focus for me and my Department. In August 2020, I wrote to all publicly funded HEIs outlining my commitment to tackling sexual violence and harassment in higher education and requesting a number of actions in this area, including the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (7 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: Inclusion is one of the core strategic goals for the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. A key ambition is to ensure that supports and opportunities are provided for learning to all. This means recognising the needs of vulnerable learners, people who are most marginalised and people with special and additional needs and assisting them in accessing and...

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

Simon Harris: I believe the Deputy is referring to the recent review of the Student Grant Scheme and the findings that the cost of living for students has increased by over 25% between 2011 and 2021. Addressing the costs of education for students and their families is a major priority for me. That is why I commissioned the review of the Student Grant Scheme, which was published on 4thMay. I have already...

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

Simon Harris: The National Development Plan commits to a step up in investment in further education and training infrastructure. Capital expenditure increased from €5.5m in 2018 to €20.8m in 2021. I can advise the Deputy that the overall 2022 further education capital allocation is €47.5m.

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

Simon Harris: The CAO is a not-for-profit company created by the Irish Higher Education Institutions to process applications on their behalf. Decisions on admissions are made by the Higher Education Institutions who then instruct the CAO to make offers to successful candidates. Neither I nor my Department have a role in the operation of the CAO. Ensuring an appropriate pipeline of suitably qualified...

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

Simon Harris: My Department is strongly committed to supporting the well-being of the population through the provision of graduates with the key competencies and skills to be effective in the health and education workforce, and support a range of public services, including nursing. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are governed by the Universities Act 1997, the Institutes of Technologies Acts 1992...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Road Network (7 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: The question raised by the Deputy relates to University of Limerick (UL) campus planning and is a matter directly for UL as an independent corporate entity established under statute. The Deputy will be aware that UL, in conjunction with Clare County Council, has advanced an application for the designation of lands on the County Clare side of its campus as an Economic Strategic Development...

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

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 274 and 275 together. Following a call for proposals under the FET College of the Future Major Projects Fund, I understand that a Strategic Assessment Report in relation to the Cavan Institute proposal has now been submitted by Cavan Monaghan ETB to SOLAS. The Deputy will be aware that it was agreed that the Cavan Institute project, previously part of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (7 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) is the independent State agency responsible for the external quality assurance of further and higher education and training in Ireland. In the past, QQI was the awarding body for the provider in question but this relationship concluded in 2018. Where the person in question would have completed a QQI award prior to that date, the person may engage...

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

Simon Harris: Under the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to eligible students attending an approved full-time course at an approved institution. Part-time courses are not currently eligible for support under the 2022 Scheme. In 2021 I approved a review of the Student Grant Scheme to ensure that adequate student supports are in place, alongside the sustainable funding model for the sector....

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

Simon Harris: The Taoiseach and I recently launched innovate for Ireland, this is a new partnership between industry and the Government to recruit and retain research talent to Ireland. Innovate for Ireland will commence in 2023 and the initial phase will seek to attract up to 400 high calibre PhD students to undertake research in Ireland that tackles national and global grand challenges such as...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (7 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 280 to 283, inclusive, 286 and 287 together. One of my goals as Minister is to ensure that potential learners have access to the educational pathways that allow them reach their potential in a way that meets the very broad and rapidly changing needs of our labour force, the economy and society. It is therefore my objective to ensure that there is access...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (7 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: Ireland has a highly developed national skills system across further and higher education and apprenticeship, lifelong learning and human capital development, under the framework of the National Skills Strategy, and underpinned by strong partnership with key stakeholders. It is firmly focused on responding in an agile and flexible way to priority skill needs, and to changes in the world of...

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

Simon Harris: The Higher Education Authority collects gender disaggregated staff data from Irish higher education institutions (HEIs) that are in receipt of annual core-grant funding. This data is collated in the Higher Education Institutional Staff Profiles by Gender, which provide information on key indicators which contribute to the assessment of gender equality in Irish HEIs and offer a valuable...

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

Simon Harris: My Department is not aware of any education providers or other institutions that are seeking to become higher education providers at this time. Further Education and Training providers can apply for QQI validation if they wish to offer HE awards, we are currently unaware of any applications for QQI validation. The strategic positioning on the higher education landscape of existing...