Results 7,921-7,940 of 45,495 for speaker:Simon Harris

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I agree fully with the Deputy about the need to continue to promote apprenticeships. We have done this in a number of ways. For the very first time, leaving certificate students, when they go onto the CAO website, cao.ie/options, now see all their options, including apprenticeships, not just the university route. I always say to students about this place, so I will say it to the face of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Reviews (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I accept some of the matters the Deputy has highlighted and the need for improvement. I particularly agree with her on the issue of part-time students. We need to do some work on defining what a part-time student is. I do not say that in any smart or flippant way. Obviously, there are many different types of part-time courses. What constitutes a part-time student for the purposes of the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Third Level Costs (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I do not wish to make the Deputy uncomfortable, but I found myself agreeing with him during the previous Question Time. I find myself similarly thinking that there is merit in the issue he has raised this evening. I have done some work on it and I am committing now to intensify that work to try to get a positive outcome. The nationality requirements for the student grant scheme are set...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Third Level Costs (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for the information and for the constructive way in which he is approaching this. I am very open and want to do more in this area. Since I came to office, we have already made three changes to try to support students coming to Ireland. First, we removed the requirement for prospective applicants coming in through our international protection system to have attended three...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Third Level Costs (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy. I was merely stating that issues relating to immigration policy are matters for the Department of Justice. I agree with the Deputy that issues relating to widening access to education are very much the responsibility of my Department. We do not shirk that nor do we pass it to any other Department. The approach I take is that it is always of benefit to provide access to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I am very conscious of the challenges faced by students with student accommodation. My Department and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage are working closely together on these issues. As everyone in this House will know, the underlying issue is one of supply. We need to increase the supply of all types of accommodation, including student accommodation. That is why we...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Further and Higher Education (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: The short answer is "Yes". We should and will do that. I agree with Deputy Ó Ríordáin in this regard. I believe he will also agree with me that staff in our third level institutions, and across the public sector, changed their work practices and how they worked overnight. They did so in an emergency scenario. They showed great flexibility and I really respect and thank...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Further and Higher Education (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: Absolutely. I acknowledge the work of the Deputy's colleague, Senator Hoey, who I happened to meet this evening. There is a lot we can do in this space. I am proud of the progress we have made across the education sector, including in early years, primary and secondary education, with regard to being inclusive of people with additional needs. We have made some progress in the third level...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Reviews (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy very much. The honest answer to the last part of the question is that it will be a matter for the discussions on the Estimates. However, I take the point she makes about the need to ensure additional supports are brought in for September. It is right to say that what is announced in the budget will take effect from the calendar year 2023. I believe the Deputy is putting...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Reviews (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy. Of course, we did take measures in this House to benefit students for this academic year. We changed the law in respect of student renters not once, but twice, to make sure that students could not be asked to pay more than one month's rent in advance or a deposit worth more than one month's rent. That was a significant issue and a solution was sought by students' unions...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Further and Higher Education (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I want to say at the outset, and perhaps we will have time to get into it during Question Time, that I look forward to working with all Members of the House and all spokespersons on a number of the issues we will have to address arising from the Ukrainian situation, in terms of supporting students including those who are already here. I know this is an issue on which Deputy Conway-Walsh and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Further and Higher Education (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I take the point the Deputy makes and the spirit in which she makes it. I certainly want to work with the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. I assure Deputy Conway-Walsh that the new funding and reform framework will be provided to the Oireachtas committee once the Cabinet has considered the matter. It will be published...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Further and Higher Education (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I am following with interest, and I believe there is value in, the work the committee is doing. Perhaps not everybody in the sector will agree with the following but let me be very clear on my position. This will not be new money for old rope. It will have to be accompanied by a reform agenda. To be very clear to the sector, I accept there is an issue with core funding that needs to be...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Further and Higher Education (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Ó Ríordáin for the question. If we were debating this a couple of months ago the first priority we would have had was making sure we could get the college campuses reopened and get students back on campus in a safe way. We discussed this at great length in the House. I thank everybody who worked extraordinarily hard to do this, including trade unions, student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: A key goal for my Department is to enhance the profile and visibility of further education and training (FET) and apprenticeship options.  The developments introduced to the CAO website allow school leavers explore all options across the third level system.  It is very important to help and encourage students to identify what education and training options best meet their...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: Since the safe-reopening of the third level sector, I have been delighted to visit almost all of the Universities, including two Universities in Northern Ireland. The list of universities visited is presented in tabular format below. Date Visited University 2022 02.03.22 Trinity College Dublin ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Oideachas trí Ghaeilge (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: Geallaim go gcomhlíonfaidh an córas breisoideachais agus ardoideachais an t-éileamh atá ann le soláthar a dhéanamh trí mheán na Gaeilge. Ní feasach dom pleananna a bheith ann faoi láthair chun foras a bhunú de réir mar atá molta ag an Teachta. San earnáil Breisoideachais agus Oiliúna, tá soláthar...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: Last November, I was delighted to approve in principle the incorporation of St Angela’s College into the new Atlantic Technological University, which will be designated on 1 April this year.  While incorporation will ultimately be a matter for the new TU’s governing body upon establishment, the plans represent a very significant and positive development for the students and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I have not been made aware of any plans to develop a campus on the north side of Cork city. However, my Department is willing to work collaboratively with higher education institutions on the development of capital projects in line with their established masterplans.  It is a priority for my Department to support higher education institutions and Education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Cross-Border Co-operation (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I am committed to the promotion and enhancement of a collaboration on a North-South basis, which allows Further Education and Training Providers to strengthen relationships in areas of mutual interest.  Officials in my Department are working very closely with their counterparts in  Department of the Economy in Northern Ireland on the development of a proposal to address skills...