Results 8,301-8,320 of 45,495 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Tests (16 Dec 2021)

Simon Harris: The intention of Government is to strengthen the prevention and intervention measures around COVID-19 in response to the changing context. My Department recognises the potential role of rapid antigen testing as one part of a package of surveillance and vigilance measures including self-monitoring and other public health measures. Following public health advice to the sector from the Expert...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Bodies (16 Dec 2021)

Simon Harris: The information sought by the Deputy, in regard to the bodies under the remit of my Department, in conjunction with the details of numbers of board members, is provided in the following table. Aegis Bodies under the remit of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Number of members on each State Body’s Board ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Bus Services (16 Dec 2021)

Simon Harris: BusConnects Cork, the plan to improve bus services throughout Cork city and suburbs is overseen by the National Transport Authority. As a transport matter, it falls within the remit of my colleague the Minister for Transport and I have not engaged with him on this issue. So far, BusConnects Cork has held two rounds of public consultation for the new bus network for the Cork metropolitan...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (16 Dec 2021)

Simon Harris: Apprenticeship is a demand driven educational and training programme which aims to develop the skills of an apprentice in order to meet the needs of industry and the labour market. Consequently, the number of apprentices being registered is determined by employers in the sector. While there is no current apprenticeship dedicated to tiling. Floor and wall tiling is included as a module in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (16 Dec 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 472 and 477 together. The COVID-related waiting list for off-the-job training places for craft apprentices is being addressed, underpinned by a Government investment of €37 million (€20M capital investment in 2021 supported by a €17M allocation in Budget 2022). There are now 8,181 apprentices waiting for assignment to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (16 Dec 2021)

Simon Harris: Craft apprenticeships account for 25 of the 62 existing available apprenticeship programmes which are delivered across the further and higher education and training sectors. They consist of four periods of on-the-job training interspersed with three periods of off-the-job training. The off-the-job training for these programmes is delivered in either ETB Training Centres, Institutes of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (16 Dec 2021)

Simon Harris: 62 national apprenticeship programmes are currently operational: this includes 25 craft apprenticeships and 37 apprenticeships introduced since 2016. In addition, 17 further programmes are currently in development in sectors such as agriculture, ICT, hospitality, construction, engineering, and commercial driving. At the end of November 2021 there were a total of 23,459 registered...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (16 Dec 2021)

Simon Harris: 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 programme. This ranges from remote or online learning to one...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (16 Dec 2021)

Simon Harris: Apprentices are employees, who are paid under an apprenticeship contract of employment. This contract sets out the terms and conditions of the apprenticeship including the rate of pay applicable to that agreement. Sectoral Employment Orders apply to a number of sectors and these would include rates of pay for apprentices. These specific agreements apply to those sectors covered by the...

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

Simon Harris: The Deputy will be aware that the National Disability Inclusion Strategy includes an action for public bodies to “increase the public sector employment target of persons with disabilities from 3% to 6% by 2024”. The current percentage target is 3% however, in recent weeks, the Cabinet has given approval to commence drafting the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment)...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Employment Rights (16 Dec 2021)

Simon Harris: Postgraduate programmes are comprised of a range of elements designed to further the training and development of students. The core component for the PhD students of their research programmes will always be the advancement of knowledge through original research, and this must remain the primary focus of the activity of postgraduate research students. In addition to skills related to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (16 Dec 2021)

Simon Harris: I refer the Deputy to the following table, collated by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on the number of students enrolled in Institutions in the Republic of Ireland with a domicile in Northern Ireland. Data in respect of Northern Ireland domiciled students in Further Education Colleges is being compiled and will be sent to the Deputy in due course. Students enrolled in Republic of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Reviews (16 Dec 2021)

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 has been undertaken by Indecon Economic Consultants, under the guidance of a steering group which has included...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Tests (15 Dec 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 to 152, inclusive, and 154 together. The intention of Government is to strengthen the prevention and intervention measures around COVID-19 in response to the changing context. My Department recognises the potential role of rapid antigen testing as one part of a package of surveillance and vigilance measures including self-monitoring and other public...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Policies (15 Dec 2021)

Simon Harris: My Department has seen significant achievements and initiatives in 2021, the majority of which are listed below. Apprenticeships - In April, the five-year Apprenticeship Action Plan was launched. - The action plan aims to, among other things, increase the number of apprenticeships to 10,000 per year by 2025. - Between January and November this year, there had been 6,471 apprenticeship...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Tests (15 Dec 2021)

Simon Harris: The intention of Government is to strengthen the prevention and intervention measures around COVID-19 in response to the changing context. My Department recognises the potential role of rapid antigen testing as one part of a package of surveillance and vigilance measures including self-monitoring and other public health measures. Following public health advice to the sector from the Expert...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Tests (14 Dec 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 470, 471, 484, 490 and 491 together. The intention of Government is to strengthen the prevention and intervention measures around COVID-19 in response to the changing context. My Department recognises the potential role of rapid antigen testing as one part of a package of surveillance and vigilance measures including self-monitoring and other public health...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Tests (14 Dec 2021)

Simon Harris: The intention of Government is to strengthen the prevention and intervention measures around COVID-19 in response to the changing context. My Department recognises the potential role of rapid antigen testing as one part of a package of surveillance and vigilance measures including self-monitoring and other public health measures. Following public health advice to the sector from the Expert...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (14 Dec 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 473, 479, 481 and 482 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Training Fund (14 Dec 2021)

Simon Harris: The National Training Fund (NTF) Act, 2000 provides for a levy on employers to be used to fund the development of and raising of skills amongst those in, or seeking, employment. The 2022 estimate for NTF income from PRSI receipts is €851.2 million. This estimate is based on a rate of 1% of reckonable earnings in 2022 and forecasted by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social...