Results 8,281-8,300 of 45,495 for speaker:Simon Harris

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

Simon Harris: Under the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025, the Government has set an overall target of 10,000 new apprenticeship registrations per annum by 2025. Projected total registrations for 2021 were 6,450. The projected total for end 2022 is 7,500. However actual registrations for 2021 have already exceeded the projected 2022 targets. There were 8,607 total apprentice registrations for 2021...

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

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1155, 1156 and 1157 together. The advanced healthcare assistant practitioner, international financial services associate, international financial services specialist apprenticeship and recruitment executive apprenticeship are funded through via the Higher Education Authority (HEA) In respect of consortia-led apprenticeship programmes, the HEA allocates funding...

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

Simon Harris: My Department has been informed by the University of Limerick that the issue has arisen due to a misinterpretation of Circular 07/2019 resulting in the application of additional increments to a number of staff, in advance of their due date, across a 12-month period between March 2019 and January 2020. The University became aware of the issue in January 2021 and undertook a detailed review of...

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

Simon Harris: SOLAS, the HEA and education and training providers are continuing to work to ensure that craft apprentices are facilitated to complete their apprenticeship in as rapid a manner as is possible. The COVID-related delays in off-the-job training places for craft apprentices is being addressed, underpinned by a Government investment of €37 million (€20M capital investment in 2021...

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

Simon Harris: I am very conscious of the pressures faced by students who are due to take their Leaving Certificate examinations in 2022, and the concerns they have around access to third level education. In relation to entry to higher education, my Department will be closely monitoring any potential impact that the level of CAO applications or Leaving Certificate grades may have on entry to further and...

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

Simon Harris: The Central Applications Office (CAO) is a not-for-profit company created by the Irish Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). It processes applications for undergraduate, and some postgraduate, courses on the behalf of HEIs.  Decisions on admissions are made by the HEIs who then instruct the CAO to make offers to successful candidates. My Department does not have a role in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Reviews (19 Jan 2022)

Simon Harris: The information requested is as follows: National survey of student experiences of sexual violence and sexual harassment Due January 2022 National survey of staff experiences of sexual violence and sexual harassment Due January 2022 OECD review of Technological University academic contracts, career paths and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Health and Safety (19 Jan 2022)

Simon Harris: Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013,  craft and general construction workers, persons undertaking on-site security work and persons or classes of persons as may be prescribed by the relevant Minister are required to hold a safety awareness registration card (Safe Pass card).  Safe Pass training and assessment is delivered by SOLAS...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (19 Jan 2022)

Simon Harris: The site referred to by the Deputy was puchased in 2018 by Laois Offfaly Education and Training Board (LOETB).  The site, formerly in the ownership of Board Na Móna, was purchased for €240,000.  The buildings on site were constructed by FÁS during their term of lease agreement and transferred to LOETB by means of statutory instrument. Since acquiring the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Correspondence (19 Jan 2022)

Simon Harris: The PQ submitted by the Deputy  unfortunately does not contain enough information for my Department at this stage to provide an answer. In order to aid in the process of helping the person to whom the Deputy refers, officials from my Department will be in touch directly with the Deputy's office in the coming days to seek the additional information they require.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Social Media (19 Jan 2022)

Simon Harris: The Department has spent €14,082.40 on social media advertising in 2021. Platform Amount Twitter 3507.58 Snapchat 2125.99 Facebook/ Instagram 8448.83 The Department does not hold records on social media advertising spend by agencies. 

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Contracts (19 Jan 2022)

Simon Harris: Information in relation to consultancy expenditure is compiled annually in respect of the previous year and published online.  Previously this data was managed and published by the Department of Education and is available at www.gov.ie/en/collection/department-o f-education-and-skills-expenditure-on-consultancy/. The data in respect of 2021 will be compiled in the...

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

Simon Harris: Under the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025, the Government has set an overall target of 10,000 new apprenticeship registrations per annum by 2025. The number of apprenticeship places across the public service will also grow to reach 750 new apprentices every year by 2025. This represents in excess of a seven-fold increase on 2020 registrations and will support a long-term goal of 7%...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Contracts (19 Jan 2022)

Simon Harris: The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation & Science was formed in 2020.  Since its formation the following client and or customer-facing and or orientated services were provided via a contracted service provider. Service Provided Provider Amount € Active Years Grant supporting delivery of a...

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

Simon Harris: I would like to thank the Deputy for raising the very important issue of combatting bullying and sexual harassment in our third level institutions and the use of non-disclosure or confidentiality agreements in third-level education institutions. No country or institution is immune to the occurrence of sexual harassment. It can happen to anyone and it can happen anywhere. We know that sexual...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Early School Leavers (19 Jan 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1171, 1172, 1173 and 1174 together. Kerry Education Training Board currently operates the Youthreach Programmes in four Youthreach Centres and one Community Training Centre. The numbers of Youthreach learners registered in County Kerry from 2018 to 2021 is as follows: Centre 2018 2019 2020 2021 ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Staff (19 Jan 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1175, 1176 and 1177 together. While there are no Higher Education Institutions headquartered in County Clare, my Department has been informed by TU Shannon (formerly Limerick Institute of Technology) that it has a campus in Ennis since 2019. Information provided to my officials notes that TU Shannon staff are not primarily based in this campus but conduct a...

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

Simon Harris: In the context of the shift to online teaching and learning that has arisen from the public health restrictions, it is a significant priority for me to provide support to students to facilitate connectivity, and to examine options designed to seek to minimise the extent to which connectivity challenges act as a barrier to full participation in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (16 Dec 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 466 and 479 together. I am very aware of the difficulties caused to students and their families by the current shortage of student accommodation. Fundamentally the challenge is one of supply, and increasing the availability of both public and private sector student accommodation will be necessary to meet with this demand. Since the launch of Rebuilding Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Examinations (16 Dec 2021)

Simon Harris: Education is an essential service and the Government has agreed that it can continue on-site, in line with Safe Return Plan published in June. The Safe Return Plan and the most recent guidance on the current approach advocate and support contingency planning to ensure that institutions remain flexible and adaptable in response to changes in the public health environment. My Department does...