Results 7,681-7,700 of 46,267 for speaker:Simon Harris

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...

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

Simon Harris: On 21 June, I secured agreement from Government for a range of measures to help displaced students and researchers. These measures include a new temporary tuition fee scheme, an extension of eligibility to Springboard, a new bursary fund for those who wish to take SOLAS approved PLC courses and an extension of the Student Assistance Fund. The European Commission have also indicated to...

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

Simon Harris: As of 30 June, there were 38,789 arrivals into Ireland from Ukraine. In line with the EU Temporary Protection Directive they have been granted access to the labour market, housing, social welfare and education on the same basis as an Irish citizen. As enrolments to higher education colleges have not commenced yet and at this stage it is not yet possible to estimate accurately how many may...

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

Simon Harris: The Taoiseach and I recently launched Innovate for Ireland, which 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: Further and Higher Education (7 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: I understand that Mayo Sligo Leitrim ETB (MSLETB) has identified a project associated with Mayo College of Further Education for possible funding under the Further Education and Training (FET) College of the Future Major Projects Fund, a new capital investment programme for the FET sector. This capital investment programme will support additional capacity, upgrading and enhancement of...

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

Simon Harris: Apprenticeships are employer led demand driven educational and training programmes, which aim to develop the skills of an apprentice in order to meet the needs of industry and the labour market. As apprentices are employees, the demand for and number of apprentices is primarily dictated by the employers in any area or sector. The Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 sets out new ways of...

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

Simon Harris: Addressing the costs of education for students and their families is a major priority for me. As part of the last Budget, I prioritised a number of changes to the SUSI scheme which will benefit learners in the coming academic year. All student grant maintenance payments, including the special rate of grant, will increase by €200 per year. The qualifying income thresholds,...

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

Simon Harris: The Government has agreed a sustainable funding model for higher education . Following an extensive economic assessment undertaken through the European Commission's DG Reform programme, €307 million has been identified as the level of funding required to address the current underfunding in Higher Education. My policy position in this regard was articulated in Funding our Future, the...

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

Simon Harris: Ireland has an advanced system of skills provision, across the spectrum of further and higher education and apprenticeship, lifelong learning and human capital development. This takes place within the framework of our National Skills Strategy and responds to challenges and opportunities for strengthening the skills profile of our workforce. I requested that my officials engage with the...