Results 7,141-7,160 of 45,495 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (15 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: Significant progress is being made in realising the ambition for apprenticeship set out in the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 published in April last year.  The further development and mainstreaming of apprenticeship in Ireland through the creation of a single unified apprenticeship system has a key role to play in meeting Ireland's skill needs in a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (15 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 171, 172 and 173 together. At the end of last year, the apprentice population was 24,212 and there were approximately 255 apprentices registered with public service employers such as the Civil Service, the Defence forces and Local Authorities. These apprentices were registered across over 20 different apprenticeship programmes in areas as diverse as...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Schemes (15 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: The Student Assistance Fund (SAF) provides financial assistance to students experiencing financial difficulties while attending higher education.  Students can be assisted towards costs such as rent, childcare, transport and costs associated with the provision of books/class materials.  Students who are non-EU, including UK nationals, but who are eligible for free or reduced fees in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Schemes (15 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: The main support available to assist postgraduate students with the cost of attending higher education is the Student Grant Scheme. In line with the commitment in the Programme for Government, from September 2021 the postgraduate fee contribution grant increased from €2,000 to €3,500, and the fee grant income threshold increased from €31,500...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Bodies (15 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 176 and 177 together. The Student Grant Appeals Board (the Board) was established under Section 25 of the Student Support Act 2011 and under Section 21(4)(a) is independent in the performance of its functions.Appointments to the Board are in compliance with The Public Appointments Service (PAS) process. Under Section 25 (4) of the Student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (15 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: Officials in my Department are liaising with the Higher Education Authority (HEA) to confirm the position and the details will be communicated to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (15 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: Officials in my Department are liaising with the Higher Education Authority (HEA) to confirm the position and the details will be communicated to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (15 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: SOLAS are the body that has statutory responsibility for the national apprenticeship system. This includes responsibility for those awards issued under its predecessor bodies, FÁS and ANCO. My Department has no role in issuing or validating individual awards. However, the Apprenticeship Services section of SOLAS receive a lot of these types of queries and will be happy to assist in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ukraine War (14 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: The Government is steadfast in its condemnation of Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine. As Minister, I am determined that those fleeing the war will receive comprehensive and compassionate support to allow them to continue their education here and my officials have been working proactively with the higher education sector to facilitate this. I must acknowledge the generosity of those...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (14 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: Science Foundation Ireland funds research in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The budget allocated to Science Foundation Ireland by my Department for 2022 is broken down as follows: Capital€213.4m Current€ 16.8m

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research and Development (14 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: Impact 2030, the national strategy for research and innovation, undertakes to review and optimise Ireland’s membership of international research organisations to ensure that our engagement reflects our existing and emerging strategic priorities. Under the National Development Plan 2018-2027, as part of Project Ireland 2040, the Government outlined its intention to review Ireland's...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (14 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: There are a number of variable factors that affect the number of students that apply and are deemed eligible for a student grant each year so any increase in recipients cannot be attributed to one factor alone such as the €1,000 increase in income thresholds. SUSI is just a few months into accepting applications for the 22/23 academic year so the final position on any increase in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (14 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1217 and 1262 together. The number of undergraduate new entrants and total enrolments in health and welfare courses, by subject area, is available in the table below. This data is from the 2020/21 academic year, the latest available. ISCED Detailed Field of Study New Entrants Total Enrolments (0913) Nursing and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (14 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1218, 1228 and 1236 to 1238, inclusive, together. The costs incurred by a Higher Education Institution in increasing student places on a particular course can vary depending on a variety factors including the type of course and the individual circumstances of the relevant Higher Education Institution. It is therefore not possible to definitively calculate...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (14 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: The National Training Fund (NTF) Act 2000 provides for a levy on employers to be used to fund the development of and raising of skills amongst those in, or seeking, employment. The NTF levy is collected by the Revenue Commissioners as part of the PRSI collection system. The funds collected are included in the transfer of gross PRSI from the Revenue Commissioners to the Social Insurance Fund...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (14 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: There is a very substantial allocation of resources to apprenticeships drawing on the funding raised through the Employer Training Levy into the National Training Fund. Therefore, apprenticeships are not a direct cost to the exchequer. In 2019, the last pre-Covid full year, registrations were at 6,177. 2020 saw 5,326 registrations, and by 2021 there were a record 8,607 registrations. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (14 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: In February of this year, I was pleased to announce the parameters of an ambitious new phase of capital investment in the further and higher education sectors. The four new programmes with a combined funding envelope of €430 million to 2025 will be funded within the overall capital ceilings for my Department as set out in the revised National Development Plan.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Interest Rates (14 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1223 and 1224 together. The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science - Vote 45 - has not incurred negative interest since its formation in 2020. The negative interest outlined in the table below relates to the National Training Fund which was transferred to my Department from the Department of Education in October 2020 as...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (14 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science was established in 2020. The current Secretary General has been in place since the establishment of the Department and hence there are no former Secretary Generals seconded from my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Costs (14 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1226, 1227 and 1229 to 1235, inclusive, together. The costs incurred by a Higher Education Institution in increasing student places on a particular course can vary depending on a variety factors including the type of course and the individual circumstances of the relevant Higher Education Institution. It is therefore not possible to definitively calculate...