Results 7,881-7,900 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (22 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science was formed on the 2 August 2020. Please see table below which provides the details requested in relation to the supply of Covid-19 related hand sanitiser for my Department.  Hand sanitiser – D/FHERIS Supplier Total Bunzl Cleaning &...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ukraine War (22 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I aware of this group  of Irish students, and a number of others, who were studying Medicine and Dentistry in Ukraine and whose studies have been disrupted as a result of the invasion.  I am working closely with the higher education sector to see what can be done to support them and facilitate the continuity of their studies. My Department is in contact with a group of over 50...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Traveller Community (22 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I welcome the publication of the Final Report of the Joint Committee on Key Issues Affecting the Traveller Community last November. I would like to take this opportunity to commend the Deputy and other members of the Joint Committee for their work in highlighting issues affecting members of the Traveller community and for the publication of this comprehensive report. I understand that...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: World Economic Forum (22 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: After an thorough and extensive examination of Departmental records I can inform the Deputy that neither I nor officials  from my Department have had any communication with the World Economic Forum or its representatives since 1 January 2019 to date.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ukraine War (22 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 710 and 711 together. The people of Ukraine have had a horrendous war thrust upon them and the Government and the EU have been united and unequivocal in our condemnation of Russia's aggression. I am particularly proud of the generous spirit the Irish people have displayed to those displaced by the war, and this has been mirrored in the response by...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ukraine War (22 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) hosts NARIC Ireland which provides advice on the academic recognition of a foreign qualification by comparing it to a major award type and level on the Irish National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). The QQI NARIC database currently lists 14 Ukrainian qualifications, comparable to levels 3-10 on the NFQ, including general professional and higher...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (22 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: The Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 sets out a new structure for the management and governance of apprenticeship and provides for a migration to a single apprenticeship model. This is in order to increase engagement with and awareness of apprenticeship as a valued proposition for both employers and prospective apprentices. As part of the transition, the proposed National...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (22 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: The main support available to students is the statutory based Student Grant Scheme where students are studying for the first time or are progressing to study at a higher level.  The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine. Assessment of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (22 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: In 2021 the Department secured additional temporary funding during the Supplementary Estimates. Within Programme B, voted higher education, the Department secured €227 million additional temporary funding in 2021: - €147 million for University pension schemes and to strengthen University balance sheets  - €80 million for the safe re-opening of the higher...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (22 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: Apprenticeship is a demand driven educational and training programme which aims to develop the skills of an apprentice in order to meet the needs of industry and the labour market. Consequently, the number of apprentices being registered is determined by employers in the sector. The number of new apprenticeship registrations for wet trades, the family of apprenticeships to which this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (22 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 717, 719 and 720 together. Craft apprenticeships account for 25 of the existing 64 apprenticeship programmes. Given the practical nature of off-the-job training for craft apprentices, the COVID-related shutdown of on-site learning activity over the last two years had a significant impact on the ability of apprentices to access off-the-job training. The other...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (22 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: The Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 aims to ensure that the apprenticeship system will contribute to meeting Ireland’s skills and human capital requirements by delivering on a target of 10,000 apprenticeship registrations per annum by 2025.  In 2021, a record 8,607 new apprentices were registered- an almost 40% increase on the figures from 2019, the last...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ukraine War (22 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I am aware of approximately 50 Irish students, who were studying Medicine and Dentistry in Ukraine and whose studies have been disrupted as a result of the invasion.  Officials from my Department have been in touch with them to establish certain baseline data including the status of their studies.   A key element of any process to facilitate the continuity of their studies will...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (22 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: It is not possible to definitively estimate the full year cost of restoring the SUSI grant scheme to pre-2011 levels. To put it in context, in 2010/11 there were 71,532 students who benefitted from grant support at a cost of €355m, whereas in 2020/21  there were 74,755 students in receipt of grant support at a cost of €363m. In the intervening years we have centralised...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Fuel Prices (22 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: The student grant is an absolutely critical support for the students who receive it. That is why, following taking up my Ministerial appointment, I initiated a Review of the Student Grant Scheme to see where improvements would be most effective. The importance of this Review has been underlined by the rise in the costs of living across society. This has impacted...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ukraine War (22 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: The Deputy will be aware that as many Ukrainian refugees arriving in Ireland traumatised, the Government's priority is to provide sanctuary and immediate supports such as food and housing.  Therefore, only limited data is gathered by the Irish Visa Authorities, and as such, there is no available data on the number of students arriving in Ireland.  However, through engagements...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ukraine War (22 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: My Department has been in contact with a number of Irish students, who were studying Medicine and Dentistry in Ukraine and whose studies have been disrupted as a result of the invasion.  I am working closely with the higher education sector to see what can be done to support them and facilitate the continuity of their studies. A key element of this process will be to understand the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Language Schools (22 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: Issues regarding overseas travel agencies have previously been brought to the attention of my Department. These agencies are privately owned and primarily operate in other jurisdictions arranging study and travel options for prospective International Higher Education (HE) and English language education (ELE) students to many countries including Ireland. These agencies act as intermediaries...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (22 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: Ireland has a developed national skills system across further and higher education and apprenticeship, lifelong learning and human capital development, under the framework of the National Skills Strategy. Underpinned by strong partnership with key stakeholders, it is focused on responding flexibly to priority skill needs and to technology-driven changes in the world of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (22 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: Apprenticeships are available in many sectors such as manufacturing, hospitality, construction, and retail.  The continued expansion of the apprenticeship system into new sectors of the economy such as agriculture and horticulture, together with the opportunity of online and blended learning, will bring real opportunities for learners and employers throughout the country. ...