Results 8,121-8,140 of 46,267 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (19 May 2022)

Simon Harris: I wish to advise the Deputy that we have not received a proposal to locate an apprenticeship centre of excellence in Drogheda, County Louth. However, it is my view that students in Drogheda should be able to access all necessary and appropriate third level education facilities within the wider area. I am pleased to confirm Louth Meath ETB have put forward a proposal under the Strategic...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (19 May 2022)

Simon Harris: Following representations from the Irish Refugee Council, NASC and others in relation to Stamp 4 visa holders, I have asked my officials to look at the issue raised today by the Deputy, including engagement with the Department of Justice and Equality. I have also asked them to look at the wider issues of alignment of SUSI and free fees supports with immigration permissions, in collaboration...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (19 May 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 126 and 146 together. At present the Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to HEA designated higher education institutions. Funding is distributed via the Recurrent Grant Allocation Model (RGAM) which currently utilises a 'two pot' system. In 2016, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) appointed...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (19 May 2022)

Simon Harris: I am happy to give an update on the new National Access Plan - the new plan will succeed the third National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education. Work on finalising the next Plan is almost complete. My Department and the HEA has led a public consultation process and has engaged with a wide range of stakeholders in the preparation of this Plan. The New Plan seeks to target...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (19 May 2022)

Simon Harris: The mental health and wellbeing of students is a priority for the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic which has brought increased stress and anxiety levels for students. My Department has progressed a number of initiatives, in partnership with the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and Higher Education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (19 May 2022)

Simon Harris: The National Skills Strategy, 2016- 2025, is the overarching framework for skills policy in Ireland.One of its’ key tenets is partnership between Government and key skills stakeholders, including the enterprise sector and providers of education and training programmes. The National Skills Council (NSC) and nine Regional Skills Fora (RSF), created under the National Skills Strategy,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (19 May 2022)

Simon Harris: I am conscious of how drug use can hinder the progression and participation of students in tertiary education. The National Drugs and Alcohol Strategy (2017-2025) represents a framework for dealing with the issues of Drug and Alcohol use in Ireland. In introducing the strategy, the Taoiseach noted that Ireland has a problem with substance misuse. Rates of drug use in Ireland have risen...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (19 May 2022)

Simon Harris: Addressing costs as a barrier to education for students and their families is a major priority for me. That is why I commissioned the review of the Student Grant Scheme, which was published on 4 May. The review involved wide stakeholder engagement, an extensive consultation with students and research into the costs of higher education. The review identifies a number of issues, including: -...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (19 May 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 132, 140 and 153 together. On 4th May I launched the Funding the Future framework which includes the Government's policy response to the Cassells and DG Reform Reviews on the future of higher education. The Government has now made important decisions about the sustainable model for future funding of higher education. Critically, we have definitively...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (19 May 2022)

Simon Harris: I understand that Mayo Sligo Leitrim ETB (MSLETB) has identified projects associated with Mayo College of Further Education for possible funding under the new capital investment programmes in the further education and training sector, namely the FET College of the Future Major Projects Fund and the Strategic Infrastructure Upgrade Fund (SIUF). This capital investment will support additional...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (19 May 2022)

Simon Harris: I understand that the Student Hub project referred to by the Deputy is one of three projects identified by Munster Technological University (MTU) for possible funding under the new Technological Sector Strategic Projects Fund (TSSPF). This new capital investment programme, which I announced in February 2022, will support additional capacity, upgrading and enhancement of current...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (19 May 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 174 together. The Implementation Group to which the Deputy refers will - per the Government's response to the Cassells Report, Funding the Future - be based on partnership between Government, the higher education sector and wider societal and enterprise interests. This will entail a stronger focus on measuring and verifying performance from...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (19 May 2022)

Simon Harris: I am aware of the difficulties faced by students in relation to obtaining affordable accommodation. Fundamentally the underlying issue is one of the supply of housing generally and that there is a need to increase the supply of all types of accommodation including student accommodation. That is why Government launched Housing for All led by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (19 May 2022)

Simon Harris: My Department is strongly committed to supporting the mental health of the population through the provision of graduates with the key competencies and skills to be effective in the health workforce, and support a range of clinical teams in our mental health services. Higher Education Institutions are governed by the Universities Act 1997, the Institutes of Technologies Acts 1992 to 2006...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (19 May 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 138 and 177 together. Inclusion is one of the core strategic goals for my Department. My ambition is to ensure that we provide supports and opportunities for learning to all. This means recognising the needs of vulnerable learners, the most marginalised and those with special and additional needs. DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools)...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (19 May 2022)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, the Minister for Education recently announced a programme of work for a reimagined Senior Cycle of education which will, in time, include changes in the final assessment procedure. These changes will be worked through with all stakeholders over a sustained period of time. Officials in the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (19 May 2022)

Simon Harris: The importance of apprenticeships in society, both now and into the future, has never been more apparent than it is today. The ‘Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025’sets out new ways of structuring, funding, and promoting apprenticeships to make apprenticeship more accessible to employers and learners. Expansion to date has widened the impact of apprenticeship to areas of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (19 May 2022)

Simon Harris: In relation to funding, on May 4th I launched Funding the Future – the Government's policy response to the Cassells and DG Reform Reviews on the future of higher education. Funding the Future settles the question on funding Higher Education. The Government has decided that income contingent loans for fees will not form part of the future funding model. Instead, the Government is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (19 May 2022)

Simon Harris: I am very aware of the impact the cost of living has on students and the challenges students are facing. As part of Budget 2022, I secured an additional €15m to enhance the existing financial supports under the Student Grant Scheme for implementation in 2022. In this regard, I have already prioritised improvements to the income thresholds and student grant rates for the 2022/23...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (19 May 2022)

Simon Harris: A key priority outlined in the framework are plans to consider options to address cost as a barrier to higher education. The Deputy will be aware that the principal support for students is the Student Grant Scheme, which assists more than 70,000 students annually to access third level education. The budgetary provision for the Student Grant Scheme in 2021 is €364.5m. The importance of...