Results 7,661-7,680 of 46,267 for speaker:Simon Harris

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...

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...