Results 7,741-7,760 of 45,495 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the rates of support for an apprentice under each support scheme since 2006 is being compiled by SOLAS. An answer will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: The Government is committed under the Action Plan to working with employers to promote, enable, and support the recruitment and training of apprentices. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: Craft apprenticeships account for 25 of the 64 existing available apprenticeship programmes. They comprise of a standard seven phase programme of alternating on-the-job and off-the-job phases. The off-the-job training for these programmes is delivered in Training Centres, Institutes of Technology and Technological Universities The full estimated projected figure of fully qualified...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: A key objective of the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 is to ensure that the apprenticeship system will increase its contribution to meeting Ireland’s skills and human capital requirements by delivering on a target of 10,000 apprenticeship registrations per annum by 2025 There are currently 64 apprenticeship programmes on offer ranging from levels 5-10 on the National...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputies Ó Ríordáin and Conway-Walsh for the amendments which, as they have said, largely refer to how we define and protect the autonomy and independence of a student union. Deputy Conway-Walsh had a view on the definition of a trade union. I will deal with the student union piece first. I am supportive of what Deputy Ó Ríordáin is trying to...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 7: In page 15, line 27, to delete “(including the promotion and use of the Irish language)”. My amendments and those of Deputy Conway-Walsh endeavour to achieve the same aim, relating to the promotion and use of the Irish language and strengthening its provision across the sector, although we may have different views on how best to do it. Amendments...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank all the Deputies for their work in this regard. This is an example of where the work of a committee makes a difference. Sometimes people only see the ruaille buaille in the Dáil Chamber and set pieces during the day, but it is the detailed, collaborative cross-party work that gets done in committees that sometimes genuinely improves legislation. It does not just improve...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 8: In page 15, line 29, after “agility” to insert the following: “and, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, such support shall include the promotion and use by those institutions of the Irish language”.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Ó Cathasaigh for submitting the amendments, outlining his rationale and engaging with my officials on the matter. For the record of the committee, I will state the factual position as of now in the legislation. It is noted that conditions of funding apply when Exchequer funding is provided to a funded body. As the Deputy has alluded to, there are not conditions relating...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 11: In page 15, line 31, to delete "value-for-money from" and substitute "value for money in". Amendments Nos. 11, 21 and 200 are in my name. I do not think they are controversial and I will take the Deputies through them. Amendment No. 11 is a technical amendment to align the wording of section 8(1)(c) with section 9(1)(c). We are changing the word "from" to the...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: We have a different view on this in that I see the benefit in the value for money. I take the Deputy's point on what value for money is and value for money is not defined in that sense but the analysis of it is entrusted to the HEA. The HEA's board is appointed under legislation with an accountability back to this House through me and through the likes of the Committee of Public Accounts....

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputies Conway-Walsh and Ó Ríordáin for their contributions. I wish to be clear in respect of wanting to develop, enhance and protect a public higher education system. Deputy Ó Cathasaigh referenced the funding discussions on how to sustainably fund higher education. I intend to bring proposals to Cabinet, likely this month, in that regard. I look forward to...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I accept the need to address the issue of precarious employment, and the need for the HEA and funding institutes more broadly to be active in this space. I accept that and I know they would too. However, I do not believe this is the appropriate place for this amendment in legislation. Due to where it would be in the Bill, and the Bill it would be in, it would not achieve what the Deputy...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputies. To be very clear, academic freedom is something on which we are all agreed. It becomes more important by the day. To be very clear in relation to democratic values and everything else, academic freedom is the law of our land and remains so. There is nothing in this Bill that in any way dilutes, modifies or changes the reality that academic freedom is fully and...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 20: 20.In page 16, to delete lines 10 and 11 and substitute the following: “(c)secure and evidence value for money in the expenditure by An tÚdarás of moneys provided to it under section 19,”.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I find myself in agreement with the Deputy, not in where we are placing it in the legislation but in respect of what he is trying to achieve. As I flagged on an earlier Stage in this debate, we are engaging with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, as we should be, to ensure this legislation not just complements our legal obligations but complements also the...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I take the point the Deputy makes regarding where best to place what he is trying to achieve in the Bill. We will engage with our colleagues in the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and share with the Deputy their view on that. My gut instinct is that we would definitely strengthen what the Deputy is endeavouring to do if, when the Minister of the day is being...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 24: In page 16, line 19, after “nationally” to insert the following: “and, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, including the educational and skills needs of persons in Gaeltacht areas (within the meaning of Part 2 of the Gaeltacht Act 2012) and outside of such areas with regard to the promotion and use of the Irish language”.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 25: In page 16, line 25, after “education” to insert “and training”. This is an amendment to section 9(1)(h). It is simply to include a reference to higher education and training. We all talk about greater integration between training and higher education, and this is simply to reflect that in the legislation.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 26: In page 16, line 27, to delete “across all disciplines” and substitute “in all disciplines”. These are two drafting suggestions. The amendments amend section 9(1)(i) which states: "promote, support and fund excellent research in the higher education system across all disciplines in accordance with national research policy and in...