Results 8,681-8,700 of 46,267 for speaker:Simon Harris

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: The Deputy makes a fair point regarding the voice of the apprentice. For example, if I wish to talk to third level students, I can talk to the USI and if I wish to talk to university presidents, then I talk to the Irish University Association, the Technological Higher Education Association, THEA, etc. Who does one talk to, however, when one wishes to talk to the apprentice on the front...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Education and Training Provision (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Stanton for raising this issue. It is not the first time he has raised this issue with me and I am aware that he has an interest in the area. The LTI is a project-based training and work experience programme operating under the 16 ETBs in partnership with community and voluntary organisations.  In 2021, the ETBs provided 212 LTI courses nationwide, involving more than...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputies Flaherty and Gould. In relation to rural and provincial Ireland, I am pleased we have €430 million in capital funding to spend on further and higher education. From memory, 45% of that will go to further education. I was talking to Longford-Westmeath ETB yesterday. Capital calls are open for each ETB to come forward with projects. There is a short deadline. It is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Third Level Education (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: The questions are out of order, my apologies.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Third Level Education (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I thought it was the Deputy's question about the university visits. Regarding the SUSI grant systems and changes in the thresholds, I will sign regulations this week which will increase the income threshold by €1,000 for the grants from September. It will increase the amount of the grant by €200 and reduce the criteria to qualify for the higher, non-adjacent rate. It will...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Third Level Education (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy. I will ask my colleague, the Minister for Transport, to revert to the Deputy on the issue regarding public transport. The changes I have spoken about will come in for students from this September. The grants will increase by €200 and the income threshold by €1,000. The qualifying criteria for the higher and non-adjacent rate will reduce from having to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Third Level Education (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: Yes.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Third Level Education (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: It is a broad stretch. Every Minister has two special advisers, who earn less than the Deputy every year. The Deputy benefits from a salary that is higher than theirs and we can work out how many student contributions that would pay for as well.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Third Level Education (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I have two special advisers. Every Minister has two Government advisers. That is a matter of fact and it is well known what special advisers do in Departments. On public transport, I will ask the Minister for Transport to revert directly to the Deputy. Fuel costs are a real issue for all our constituents, regardless of our political affiliations. I hope the Government can do something...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I join the Deputy in congratulating Dr. Orla Flynn. I think she will be an excellent president. I wish her luck and look forward to Atlantic Technological University, ATU, coming into being shortly. The Deputy has hit the nail on the head. One of the institutions is already asking what it can do locally. For the first time here we are making a shift in policy and having an open-door...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I probably do not have time to engage on the Deputy's last point, but let me offer some statistics. While I accept there needs to be new policy initiatives and policy levers, some of which I have outlined, it is important to say that since 2016 we have seen 12,149 purpose-built student bed units built. Work is under way on-site on an additional 3,128 units and planning permission has been...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Flaherty for the question and for highlighting the important issue of apprenticeships. I am pleased to say that significant progress is being made in realising the ambition for apprenticeship set out in the Action Plan for Apprenticeship, which I was pleased to publish in April of last year. The further development and mainstreaming of apprenticeship in Ireland through the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I agree fully with the Deputy about the need to continue to promote apprenticeships. We have done this in a number of ways. For the very first time, leaving certificate students, when they go onto the CAO website, cao.ie/options, now see all their options, including apprenticeships, not just the university route. I always say to students about this place, so I will say it to the face of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Reviews (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I accept some of the matters the Deputy has highlighted and the need for improvement. I particularly agree with her on the issue of part-time students. We need to do some work on defining what a part-time student is. I do not say that in any smart or flippant way. Obviously, there are many different types of part-time courses. What constitutes a part-time student for the purposes of the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Third Level Costs (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I do not wish to make the Deputy uncomfortable, but I found myself agreeing with him during the previous Question Time. I find myself similarly thinking that there is merit in the issue he has raised this evening. I have done some work on it and I am committing now to intensify that work to try to get a positive outcome. The nationality requirements for the student grant scheme are set...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Third Level Costs (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for the information and for the constructive way in which he is approaching this. I am very open and want to do more in this area. Since I came to office, we have already made three changes to try to support students coming to Ireland. First, we removed the requirement for prospective applicants coming in through our international protection system to have attended three...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Third Level Costs (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy. I was merely stating that issues relating to immigration policy are matters for the Department of Justice. I agree with the Deputy that issues relating to widening access to education are very much the responsibility of my Department. We do not shirk that nor do we pass it to any other Department. The approach I take is that it is always of benefit to provide access to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I am very conscious of the challenges faced by students with student accommodation. My Department and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage are working closely together on these issues. As everyone in this House will know, the underlying issue is one of supply. We need to increase the supply of all types of accommodation, including student accommodation. That is why we...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Further and Higher Education (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: The short answer is "Yes". We should and will do that. I agree with Deputy Ó Ríordáin in this regard. I believe he will also agree with me that staff in our third level institutions, and across the public sector, changed their work practices and how they worked overnight. They did so in an emergency scenario. They showed great flexibility and I really respect and thank...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Further and Higher Education (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: Absolutely. I acknowledge the work of the Deputy's colleague, Senator Hoey, who I happened to meet this evening. There is a lot we can do in this space. I am proud of the progress we have made across the education sector, including in early years, primary and secondary education, with regard to being inclusive of people with additional needs. We have made some progress in the third level...