Results 8,181-8,200 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Institutes of Technology (8 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: My Department and the Higher Education Authority (HEA) continue to work closely with Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) in relation to the infrastructure required to deliver on the ambitions of the new Technological University. WIT has been undertaking an appraisal process, in accordance with the requirements of the Public Spending Code, to examine options for expanded provision. This...

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

Simon Harris: Higher Education Institutions are autonomous bodies within the meaning of the Universities Act 1997, the Institutes of Technology Acts 1992 to 2006, and the Technological Universities Act 2018. As such they are autonomous in relation to their administrative and academic affairs, and the courses offered by any institution, and the level at which they are offered, are a matter for the...

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

Simon Harris: As the National Agency with responsibility for higher education Erasmus mobilities, the Higher Education Authority have advised that 2,807outbound mobilities have taken place in the 2021 calendar year. Students travelled to the following countries; Austria; Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Greece, Finland, France, Hungary, Croatia, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia,...

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

Simon Harris: I am very committed to the development of stronger North-South links in the Further Education and Training and this continues to be a major focus for my Department under its Statement of Strategy. There is good co-operation which currently exists between Education and Training Boards, and the Regional Colleges in Northern Ireland, of which my Department and the Department of the Economy...

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

Simon Harris: Since 2013 Government has provided over €90 million under firstly the Higher Education Landscape Fund, and since 2020 under the TU Transformation Fund to consortia of Institutes of Technology. This funding has the objective of advancing consortia proposals for TU establishment and assists newly established TUs in the post-establishment transition period when these TUs are seeking to...

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

Simon Harris: I am very aware of the impact the cost of living and in particular the cost of accommodation has on students and the challenges students are facing. The Government has taken action to address affordability in Student Accommodation. Rent increases in student accommodation is capped under the Rent Pressure Zones. As of this academic year, students cannot be made to pay more than two...

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

Simon Harris: I have not met with either UCC or MTU to discuss a new campus on the northside of Cork city and my Department have not been made aware of any plans by either institution in that regard. However, my Department continues to work collaboratively with higher education institutions on the development of capital projects in line with their established masterplans. I am sure the Deputy is...

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

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 105, 112, 126 and 131 together. Since it opened in 2008, the Science Gallery has been a popular visitor attraction and strengthened the appreciation of science especially among young people. My Department and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media remain in contact with the Provost and management at Trinity College Dublin (TCD)...

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

Simon Harris: The Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025sets out new ways of structuring, funding, and promoting apprenticeships to make apprenticeship accessible to employers and learners. The actions set out in the Plan seek to deliver on a target of 10,000 annual apprenticeship registrations by 2025. The Government is committed under the Action Planto working with employers to promote, enable and...

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

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 107, 142 and 515 together. The new National Development Plan (NDP) provides for a step up in capital funding and a significantly more ambitious phase of capital investment in the FET sector. My Department, in conjunction with SOLAS, has undertaken significant planning work to build up the governance, strategic framework and delivery capability required to...

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

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 108, 138, 514 and 522 together. My Department's Statement of Strategy contains a commitment to put in place a sustainable funding model for the higher education. This is essential in ensuring that our higher education institutions can effectively meet high standards of quality and performance, and achieve critical outcomes for our economy and society. ...

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

Simon Harris: Since March 2020, higher education has experienced one of the most disruptive phases in its recent history. Overnight there was a need to begin emergency remote teaching, learning and assessing. €70m Covid-19 support funding was provided to institutions in 2020 to support Frontline Response, Return to Education and Transition to Online learning. €35.1m was specifically...

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

Simon Harris: I am happy to give an update on the review of the Student Grant Scheme. This was a very important commitment in the Programme for Government, which will help shape decision-making on how we support students over the years to come. Following a procurement process, the review was undertaken by Indecon Economic Consultants, under the guidance of a steering group which included student and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (8 Feb 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 learners with...

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

Simon Harris: Higher Education Institutions are autonomous bodies within the meaning of the Universities Act 1997, the Institutes of Technology Acts 1992 to 2006, and the Technological Universities Act 2018. As such, they are entitled to determine the number of places offered in a course under any particular entry route, including places for PLC students and it is not within my remit to determine how many...

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

Simon Harris: The Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025sets out new ways of structuring, funding, and promoting apprenticeships to make apprenticeship accessible to employers and learners. The Plan seeks to deliver on a target of 10,000 annual apprenticeship registrations by 2025. The Plan will address the clear need to broaden the awareness of apprenticeship as a work-based route to internationally...

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

Simon Harris: Economic development, job creation and national prosperity are, and will be, highly dependent on a strong research, development and innovation base with a regular output of new discoveries and inventions, innovative products and services, and a pipeline of highly educated and trained people. A key objective of my Department is that all students and learners are provided with the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Language (8 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: The Department for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science is committed to the implementation of the Official Languages Act and provision of Irish-language services, and the Bille na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú) is of high importance to Ireland and the life of the language in this country. It will ensure that Irish speakers can interact with the Government and...

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

Simon Harris: The main support available to students is the Student Grant Scheme managed by SUSI. The scheme provides maintenance and fee grant support for qualifying students who meet the criteria regarding means, nationality, residency and progression. In 2020/21 over 101,000 students applied for grant support with almost 80,000 students assessed as eligible for support. The decision on eligibility...

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

Simon Harris: I recognise the critical importance of having a strong pipeline of healthcare graduates, and my Department is strongly committed to supporting the 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 health services. The Programme for Government commits the...