Results 8,061-8,080 of 45,495 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (22 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: In 2019, my Department launched a call under the Higher Education Strategic Infrastructure Fund (HESIF) for key strategic projects to be co-funded by the Exchequer.  At that time University College Cork (UCC) prioritised an application for a new building, the Cork University Business School (CUBS) to be funded.  The CUBS application was successful and approved in principle for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (22 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: There is no quota placed on dental courses by my Department, and therefore the places offered are a matter for the higher education institutions, in line with their autonomy. However due to the high level of practical work involved there are material constraints on the number of students that can be accepted onto dentistry courses. My Department is strongly committed to supporting the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (22 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 613 and 614 together. Ireland places central importance on skills policy and human capital development. Ireland has an advanced system of skills provision, across Further and Higher Education, lifelong learning and human capital development, which is agile and responsive to changes in the world of work, in order to address evolving skills needs. As outlined in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (22 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: The income limit for the special rate of grant is aligned to the maximum point of the weekly State Contributory Pension plus the maximum Qualified Adult Allowance for a person over 66 years. The student grant means test for 2022 is based on gross reckonable income for the 2021 tax year. As the Department of Social Protection state pension payment was not increased in Budget 2021, the special...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Climate Action Plan (22 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: A Capital Planning and Climate Change unit was established within my Department in September 2021. The Unit is responsible for coordination of the overall Departmental approach to Climate Action Plan implementation including supporting inter-Departmental and whole of Government work in this area.

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

Simon Harris: Under the Further Education and Training Act (2013), SOLAS has statutory responsibility for planning, funding, and co-ordinating Further Education and Training (FET) in Ireland. While The Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021 -2025 plan sets out actions to provide for craft apprentices to express preferences on the location of their off-the-job training. The offer of an off-the-job training...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Communications (22 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: I do have the application referred to by the Deputy. However, I do not use it for official Government business.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research Funding (22 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: The SFI Research Centres are funded on a multi annual basis.  During 2021 there were 16 SFI Research Centres in receipt of funding through the SFI Research Centres Programme.  These are set out below along with the projected allocations for those Research Centres in 2022. SFI Research Centres do receive funding through other SFI programmes.  The attached table  reflects...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (17 Feb 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. With regard to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (17 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: The Action Plan for Apprenticeship (2021 – 2025) released by my department last year sets out a 5 year strategy towards delivering an apprenticeship system which provides enhanced responsiveness to skills delivery and an improved experience for employers and learners. The development and promotion of apprenticeship is a significant Government priority in responding to key skill needs...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (17 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: The Student Grant Scheme, administered by SUSI, 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 decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for the centralised student grant awarding authority...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (17 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: I am very conscious of the difficulties that students, like so many others in society, face as a result of the increased costs of living.  For students and their families this includes not just costs such as accommodation and food but also education-specific costs such as the student contribution.  I have monthly meetings with the USI and regular engagement with students across...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (16 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: Last year, Government approved the development of a licensing model for individuals working on certain construction and quarrying related activities, replacing the existing construction and quarrying skills certification schemes. Government also approved the drafting of the general scheme of a bill to establish the model.  Work is underway on this, with a stakeholder...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (16 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: The site referred to by the Deputy was purchased in 2018 by Laois Offaly Education and Training Board (LOETB).  Prior to purchase the site was leased by Board na Móna to FÁS from February 2008 at an annual cost of €10,000. FÁS expended €7.969m erecting and equipping buildings on the site mentioned for training purposes. The buildings and equipment transferred...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (16 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science was established in June 2020. The tables below detail all spending on foreign travel by the department from the establishment of the department to date. Minister Simon Harris 2021 France (Paris)/Belgium (Brussels) €3,856.81 2021 Northern Ireland (Derry)...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (16 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: The data requested by the Deputy is outlined in the table below, broken down by Higher Education Institution, course and year. HEI /  Course 2018 2019 2020 2021 National University of Ireland, Galway 25 23 22 32 Bachelor of Science (Speech and Language Therapy) 25 23 ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (16 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: The WWETB National NZEB Training Centre is the first facility in Europe to offer a suite of trade-specific NZEB courses. On-site retrofit programmes are currently provided in Waterford Wexford ETB and Laois Offaly ETB including through Mount Lucas National Construction Training Centre.  These training courses introduce participants to the legislative concepts required to meet the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (16 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 185 and 186 together. There are a range of options for people who wish to train in retrofitting. There are short term courses for those who are involved in the construction industry and longer courses for those who are not, The majority of courses are three days in duration. This is a blended model with two days online and one day in the training centre. A...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ministerial Staff (16 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: I can confirm to the Deputy that neither the Minister of State nor I have the services of Garda ministerial drivers. 

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (15 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 546 and 547 together. Apprenticeship is a work based learning opportunity. It is an employer-led offering based on a contract of employment between the apprentice and their respective employer. It incorporates a minimum of 50% on-the-job training with off-the-job training which is delivered in a number of different ways according to the apprenticeship...