Results 8,001-8,020 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

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

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 118 together. On the 14thFebruary last, I announced the parameters of an ambitious new phase of capital investment in the further education and training sector.  The investment will include: - A FET College of the Future Major Projects Fund, supporting projects to drive reform of the FET  sector, including consolidation of provision in high...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I recognise that cost can be major factor for many people in accessing higher education, and I am committed to delivering on the Programme for Government’s commitments regarding SUSI.  In addition to commissioning a major review of the scheme, I have also prioritised expansion and reform of the scheme in budgetary allocations. I commissioned a major review of the Student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Staff (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: In relation to the question of precarious employment there are a number of work streams which are relevant. My Department is engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and with the Higher Education Authority (HEA) regarding a revised employment control framework.  We have also established a subgroup of the national advisory forum for Ireland’s framework...

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

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 429 together. In 2020, the latest year for which data is available, there were 52,513 students enrolled in postgraduate programmes. This represents a 36% increase in postgraduate enrolments since 2016, with particularly large increases in areas of key skills such as engineering, manufacturing and construction (43%) and health and welfare (46%). ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: There are a number of Programme for Government (PfG) commitments aimed at addressing sexual harassment and bullying. Specifically the PfG commits to “Ensure that every Higher Education Institution commissions a survey for all staff and students on harassment, sexual harassment, and bullying, with a view to informing their equality, diversity and inclusion action plans.” ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I am committed to resolving the issue of the funding model for higher education as a matter of priority. This is essential in ensuring that our higher education institutions can effectively meet high standards of quality and achieve critical outcomes for our economy and society.  I will be bringing forward a proposal on a funding model to Government, which will be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Medical Research and Training (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: Ensuring an appropriate pipeline of suitably qualified healthcare professionals is a key priority. The challenges presented by Covid-19 have given extra urgency to the need to address the long-term workforce planning needs of the health system. My Department is strongly committed to supporting the health of the population through the provision of graduates with the key competencies and skills...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, the development or operation of any campus of the new multi-campus South East Technological University will be a matter in the first instance for the governing body of the new university upon its establishment.  In February this year, I launched two new capital investment programmes for the higher education sector,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research and Development (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: The development of a new national strategy for research and innovation (R&I) is a key commitment in the Government’s Economic Recovery Plan 2021, which sets out the “dual ambition of placing research, development and innovation at the heart of addressing Ireland’s economic and societal challenges, and building capacity and capability across the research and innovation...

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

Simon Harris: Equity of Access to Further and Higher Education continues to be a national priority for the Government and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. Inclusion is a key goal in my Department's Statement of Strategy.  The Programme for Government also reflects the importance of supporting learners at risk of educational disadvantage and...

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

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for the question on this matter. Our higher education institutions have a duty of care to their students and staff, and a responsibility to foster a campus culture that is clear in the condemnation of unwanted and unacceptable behaviours, which act as barriers to their safety and their active participation in college life. Significant progress has been made...

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

Simon Harris: Progress of Delivery of Technological University Status Considerable progress has been made in this area, since the passage of the Technological Universities Act 2018, with the following institutional; consolidations and mergers: - On 01 January 2019, Dublin Institute of Technology, Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown, and Institute of Technology, Tallaght, consolidated into Technological...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: There are currently 199.67 full time equivalent staff currently employed by my Department. The current annual salaries of the highest and second highest paid persons employed by my Department are €205,199 and €159,042 respectively. The civil service salary scales applying to staff of the Department are set out in the attached table.

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

Simon Harris: Ongoing communication is taking place between officials and the Higher Education Institution (HEI) concerned in relation to the case raised by the Deputy with a view to bringing this matter to a conclusion. Officials will request the relevant HEI to update the individual concerned.

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

Simon Harris: Equity of Access to Higher Education continues to be a national priority for the Government and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. The Programme for Government reflects the importance of supporting learners at risk of education disadvantage and learners with special education needs in higher education.  My Department has taken a range of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: Significant progress is being made in realising the ambition for apprenticeship set out in the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 published in April last year.  The further development and mainstreaming of apprenticeship in Ireland through the creation of a single unified apprenticeship system has a key role to play in meeting Ireland's skill needs in a manner which presents a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: The Student Grant Scheme, administered by SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland), provides grant assistance to students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. The means test arrangements of the Student Grant Scheme are applied...

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

Simon Harris: The main support available to assist postgraduate students with the cost of attending higher education is the Student Grant Scheme. 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. Postgraduate students who meet all of the qualifying conditions for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: Firstly I want to start by reiterating the Government’s utter condemnation of Russia’s actions in Ukraine as illegal and immoral.  This is an evolving situation and the Government is committed to taking actions necessary to support the people of Ukraine as well as hard-hitting sanctions against Russia.   In terms of financial sanctions and restrictions, each...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: The introduction of an annual employer grant is a significant deliverable under the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025. The new Employer Grant is funded in Budget 2022 and will see annual payments to employers of €2,000 per apprentice for those apprenticeships which are not eligible for the payment of off-the-job training allowances. Its introduction means that, for the first...