Results 8,461-8,480 of 45,495 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (30 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: Significant progress has been made regarding the Framework for Consent in Higher Education, since it was first launched in 2019. The Framework aims to ensure the creation of an institutional campus culture which is safe, respectful and supportive. In August 2020, I wrote to all the Presidents of the publicly funded higher education institutions, with a view to strengthening institutional...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (30 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: It's a key objective of my Department that all students and learners are provided with the opportunities to acquire and develop the skills that allow them reach their potential in a way that meets the very broad and rapidly changing needs of our labour force, the economy and society. My objective is, therefore, to ensure that there is access into either further or higher education for each...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Legislative Measures (30 Nov 2021)

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: Gender Equality (30 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: The HEA Centre of Excellence for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion is tasked with overseeing the implementation of the recommendations of the 2016 HEA National Review of Gender Equality and the Gender Action Plan 2018-2020, and the HEA now collects annual progress reports from HEIs. A summary report of progress on gender equality in Irish HEIs (2016 – 2019) was produced and is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (30 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: Munster Technological University (MTU) received approval in principle in December 2019 for exchequer funding in the amount of €18.75m for extensive upgrade and refurbishment of the 1974 Building at its Cork Campus. This funding represents a key investment for the Campus and will further boost the role played by MTU as a driver of economic development in the southern region. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (30 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: The support and wellbeing of our students is a priority for my Department, particularly in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the increased stress and pressure resulting from it. In 2020, a total of €5 million was allocated to the higher education institutions to support student mental health and wellbeing. HEIs were requested to allocate funds towards student-facing services,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (30 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: In considering fees, it is important to note that the State currently provides very substantial financial support to undergraduate students in higher education towards the cost of their studies. This commitment is demonstrated through the high level of fees support amounting to in excess of €540m per annum provided by the State for large numbers of students participating in higher...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Commissions of Investigation (30 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: There are no commissions of investigation currently ongoing in the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (30 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: The matter of health workforce planning and ensuring an appropriate pipeline of qualified healthcare workers within Ireland, is a major priority for my Department. This would be a priority even in normal times, but the COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant strain on our healthcare sector, further underscores its importance. The Programme for Government commits the Department of Health to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Strategies (30 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: The Adult Literacy for Life, or ALL, Strategy sets out a cross-government, cross-economy, cross-society approach to address this priority. It sets out the detailed pathway to achieve the vision of an Ireland where every adult has the necessary literacy, numeracy and digital literacy to engage in society and realise their potential. I believe that the Strategy can be transformative in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (30 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: 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. A range of supports and measures are in place for learners with disabilities; some of these supports are targeted...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (30 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: Delivery of the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 is progressing, overseen by a Steering Group comprising representatives of SOLAS, the HEA, QQI and the Department. Key developments so far this year include: - Work on the establishment of the National Apprenticeship Office (NAO) with a draft Memorandum of Understanding prepared by SOLAS and HEA due to be submitted to their...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (30 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: The development and progression of technological universities (TUs) is an established policy objective of Government in the context of overarching national strategy on higher education landscape restructuring and this is underscored in the commitment in the current Programme for Government. However, it remains a matter for the governing bodies of autonomous Institutes of Technology as...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (30 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: The support and wellbeing of our students is a priority for my Department, particularly in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the increased stress and pressure resulting from it. In 2020, a total of €5 million was provided to address student mental health and wellbeing in higher education. HEIs were requested to distribute funding to student-facing services such as: - Recruitment of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (30 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: 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 persons on low income and those with special and additional needs. A range of supports and measures are in place for learners with low income and with disabilities; some of these supports are targeted...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (30 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: Where an apprentice pays an Annual Student Contribution, he amount of ASC charged to apprentices is calculated on a pro rata basis of the time which they spend in the institution during the academic year. In cases where training is delivered in an Education and Training Board there is no contribution required from the apprentice. For craft apprenticeships, the ASC charged is typically one...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (30 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are governed by the Universities Act 1997, the Institutes of Technologies Acts 1992 to 2006 and the Technological Universities Act 2018. Within the meaning of these Acts, higher education institutions are autonomous with regard to management of their academic affairs and the location of their campuses. For example, IT Carlow currently has a footprint...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (30 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: The support and wellbeing of our students is a priority for my Department, particularly in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the increased stress and pressure resulting from it. In 2020, I secured a comprehensive package of financial supports from Government for the higher education and further education and training sectors to mitigate the impact of Covid. This package included funding of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Cross-Border Co-operation (30 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: The new draft PEACE PLUS programme, which has been approved by the Irish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive through the North-South Ministerial Council, includes for the first time a provision for the delivery of skills initiatives on a cross-border basis. While final approval is awaited must be secured from the Commission, a provision of €50m has been set aside to fund...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (30 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: The Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 was launched on 19th April and sets out a five year plan which sets out new ways of structuring, funding, and promoting apprenticeships to make apprenticeship accessible to employers and learners. The plan will deliver on a target of 10,000 apprenticeship registrations per annum by 2025. The Plan will address the clear need to broaden the...