Results 8,081-8,100 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Defective Building Materials (15 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware responsibility for the build environment in the further and higher education sectors in Donegal lies with Donegal ETB and Letterkenny IT respectively. My Department has not been informed by the further and higher education providers in question of any checks for mica or of the presence of mica in buildings in the sector.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (15 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. My Departments officials have engaged with SOLAS on behalf of Deputy Moynihan and have requested SOLAS to engage directly the Deputy in regard to this person's case.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Institutes of Technology (15 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: Under the Regional Technical Colleges Act 1992, as amended by the Institutes of Technology Act 2006, the responsibility for appointing the President of an Institute of Technology (IoT) lies with the Governing Body of the relevant IoT. This legislative function of the Governing Body requires that appointments of Presidents are made in accordance with procedures, including the composition...

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

Simon Harris: The Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025, sets a target of 10,000 annual apprentice registrations by 2025. In 2021 there were a record 8,607 registrations- up from 6,177 for 2019, the last pre-COVID full year, and the highest annual registrations since the 2006 figure of 8,306. The Government is committed under the Action Plan to working with employers to promote, enable and support the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Tax Reliefs (15 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: Section 473A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 set out the conditions for tax relief on tuition fees for higher education. As the Deputy will appreciate, while the operation of the student grant scheme support measures for third level students is a function of this Department, the disregard amount referenced is a matter for the Revenue Commissioners. Further information on the current tax...