Results 7,201-7,220 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Radon Gas Levels (2 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department operates one office in the centre of Dublin. This building was provided from existing State owned office space in September 2021 with staff beginning to move in thereafter.  This office space has not been tested for Radon since my Department took up occupancy.  I can confirm that having consulted previous maps and the updated...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research and Development (2 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 330, 331 and 332 together. The Programme for Government Our Shared Future includes a commitment to ensure that Ireland is a global leader in research and innovation across the arts, humanities, social sciences and STEM. Consequently, Impact 2030: Ireland's Research and Innovation Strategy was published recently and positions research and innovation at the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (2 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: My Department provides funding on an annual basis to the Student Assistance Fund (SAF) to assist students who are unable to meet costs associated with day-to-day participation in higher education. The core funding allocation for the SAF is €9.1m. This includes €1 million of ring-fenced core funding allocated in 2017 for the support of part-time students who...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (2 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: The main focus of the report to which the Deputy refers is on education in the context of primary and post-primary, although it does refer to the promotion of collaboration at further and higher education, as well as research and innovation. I was struck by its message of the common challenges facing systems North and South, and how the promotion of collaboration and shared practice is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (2 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: An Annual Student Contribution (ASC) is levied on all students attending Institutes of Technology (IoTs) and Technological Universities.  The amount of ASC charged to apprentices is calculated on a pro rata basis, according to the time which they spend in the institution during the academic year. In cases where training is delivered in an Education and Training Board there is no...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (2 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: The information requested by the Deputy on the the estimated cost to the Exchequer of providing defined minimum allowances  for off-the-job training is currently being collated and will be sent to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (2 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: The information requested by the Deputy on the estimated cost to the Exchequer of a ten percent increase in the apprentice travel allowance and accommodation allowance for off-the-job training is currently being collated and will be sent to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (2 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: The information requested by the Deputy on the average annual cost of craft apprentice allowances to the Exchequer is currently being collated and will be sent to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (2 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 339 and 340 together. The revised National Development Plan (NDP) provides for Exchequer investment of nearly €2.9 billion in further and higher education infrastructure, research and innovation over the five-year period 2021–2025. This is in addition to infrastructure to be delivered by way of Public Private Partnership (PPP),...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (2 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: The Higher Education Public Private Partnership (PPP) Programme comprises eleven building projects in the Higher Education sector. The Programme is broken into two bundles with Bundle 1 comprising six projects, currently at preferred tenderer stage and Bundle 2 comprising five projects, currently at competitive dialogue (pre-tender submission) stage. These projects will play an important role...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (2 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I am acutely aware of the difficulties faced by students in relation to obtaining affordable accommodation. There are fundamental underlying issues with housing supply more generally and there is a need to increase the supply of all types of accommodation including student accommodation. That is why Government launched Housing for All led by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (2 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: The university sector collects full economic costing data .The full economic cost of each student enrolled as an undergraduate student will vary depending on the discipline.   The estimated total cost per undergraduate nursing, occupational therapy, physiotherapy student is c.€10,000 – €11,000 per student per year. The estimated total cost of educating an...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health and Safety (1 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank Senator Keogan for raising this important and timely matter. Before I get into the substance let me be very clear that we do need an overhaul of the construction licensing system. We intend to bring forward legislation on this matter shortly. It will give Members of the House and the Senator an opportunity to contribute to ensure we have a modern fit-for-purpose safety system when...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health and Safety (1 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: The move will be very welcome and I am the first to admit that it is long overdue. Moving the process online will make a significant difference to people and will be a practical way to help them to go about their business. We want people on-site as quickly as possible and we all know that is important. We need to do so in a safe manner and I think that having an online renewal process will...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health and Safety (1 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank the Senator. She has shown a great interest in this matter, apprenticeships and the like since becoming a Member. My best guesstimate is around the month of October but certainly before the end of the year. We are working to make sure that the Safe Pass registration process fully transitions online by the end of the year. I know that the initiative will be very welcome having...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Student Universal Support Ireland Grant (1 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank my colleague for his work on this matter. It is a good example of common-sense politics where one identifies an issue and bring forward proposals to fix the issue. I thank him for tabling this proposal at a meeting of our parliamentary party and for engaging with me on same. The proposal is good for students, local businesses and families. In addition, there is the concept that...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Student Universal Support Ireland Grant (1 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I largely agree with everything the Senator said. When it was set as the income level in 2016, €4,500 was worth a different amount in real terms. The world has changed, including in the context of inflation and in terms of minimum wage changes. This is a common-sense proposal the Senator is bringing forward but I often find common sense is not that common. It is important when we...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (1 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: The Student Grant Scheme, which is administered by SUSI on behalf of my department, is demand led and as such the numbers applying each year can change for reasons such as demographics and the expansion and extension of alternative educational opportunities. It is therefore not possible to fully determine the number of new applicant's who may apply for supports under...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (1 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: The Student Grant Scheme, which is administered by SUSI on behalf of my department, is demand led and as such the numbers applying each year can change for reasons such as demographics and the expansion and extension of alternative educational opportunities. It is therefore not possible to consider the number of new applicant's who may apply for supports under the student grant...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (1 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: During the 2020/2021 academic year,(the latest year data is available)  statistics  from the Higher Education Authority show that there were 49,658 students studying at all levels in our publicly funded institutions on a part time basis. The costs of extending the SUSI grant scheme to these part time students would depend on an assessment to see if they meet the...