Results 9,161-9,180 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Harris: The first governing body of the Munster Technological University (MTU) was established on 1 January 2021 with 5 members appointed in accordance with Sections 55 and 56 of the Technological Universities Act 2018. Under section 55(3) of the 2018 Act the relevant procedures were subsequently concluded to expand the governing body to 21 members as of 30 June 2021. In accordance with the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Harris: I wish to advise the Deputy that provision of further education and training at Whitehall College of Further Education (Whitehall CFE) is governed by City of Dublin ETB (CDETB). The ETB expect to support in the region of 350 learners in Whitehall CFE in the 2021/2022 academic year. Through PLC provision a range of course options will be provided, including Business and Finance, English...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Harris: The Government has committed to planning for a significant increase in onsite attendance in the tertiary education sector in the next academic year. Following Government approval, last month I published A Safe Return: Plan for a safe return to on-site Further and Higher Education and Research in 2021/22. The Plan reflects the essential nature of higher and further education and training,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Harris: The Government has committed to planning for a significant increase in onsite attendance in the tertiary education sector in the next academic year. Following intensive consultation with sectoral stakeholders and Government approval, I published A Safe Return: Plan for a safe return to on-site Further and Higher Education and Research in 2021/22. The Plan reflects the essential...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Harris: 36 apprenticeships have been launched following the 2013 Review of Apprenticeship Training in Ireland which set out the benefits of a system which combined workplace learning with classroom based learning in an education and training institution. These programmes complemented the craft apprenticeships which were in existence at that time and bring the total number of apprenticeships...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Harris: Officials in my Department are in regular contact as required in relation to relevant policy issues with management in all technological universities (TUs) including Munster Technological University (MTU). The Department is represented on the National Negotiation Forums in relation to TUs where the representatives of both academic staff and professional, management and support staff and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Harris: The Government has committed to planning for a significant increase in onsite attendance in the tertiary education sector in the next academic year. Following consultation with sectoral stakeholders and on following Government approval, the Minister published A Safe Return: Plan for a safe return to on-site Further and Higher Education and Research in 2021/22. The Safe Return Plan can...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Harris: The mental health and wellbeing of our students is one of my priorities. In 2020 I secured additional funding of €3m to underpin wellbeing and mental health and student services in our higher education institutions (HEIs) which was in addition to the €2m funding allocated in Budget 2020. The Higher Education Authority (HEA) requested HEIs distribute this funding in support of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Harris: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for the centralised student grant awarding authority Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) to determine. For student grants purposes, students are categorised according to their circumstances either as students dependent on parents or a legal guardian, or as independent mature students. A student may be assessed as an independent...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Institutes of Technology (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Harris: Higher education Institutions (HEIs) are autonomous and determine themselves which courses will be offered. In addition, targeted skills initiatives including Springboard+, the Human Capital Initiative and July Stimulus Modular provision provide for courses in areas of identified skills needs, including courses in relation to engineering and renewable energy. Under the July Stimulus...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Harris: Following my granting on 5 May 2021 of their application for TU status under the Technological Universities Act 2018, the dissolution of Athlone and Limerick Institutes of Technology requires the approval by both Houses of the Oireachtas of a draft order appointing the date of establishment of the new Technological University of the Shannon : Midlands Midwest. The date in prospect is 1...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Harris: It has been a significant priority for me and my Department, in the context of the shift to online teaching and learning that has arisen from the public health restrictions, 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 higher and further...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, there is already a rich legacy of collaboration between Further and Higher Education Institutions on a North-South basis. Many of these have grown due to proximity while others have been facilitated through various EU instruments including the PEACE and Horizon programmes. The Special EU Programmes Body is currently drafting the next iteration of PEACE...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Harris: My Department's Statement of Strategy, which I published on 8 March last, 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. The report referred to in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Harris: The IT Carlow Wexford campus has been in operation since 1995. The current campus facilities consist of two separate rented sites which offer little opportunity for expansion. It has been a long term ambition of IT Carlow to secure a more suitable permanent campus site in Wexford. In the broader context of higher education progression and integration in the South East this is an objective I...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Harris: The Student Support Scheme is a critical financial support for students participating in higher education. As of earlier this week, SUSI had received almost 74,000 applications from students. To date, almost 53,500 applications have been assessed with over 47,000 assessed as eligible for support for the next academic year. As in any statutory scheme, a core principle is that there is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Harris: The purpose of the Student Grant Scheme is to provide additional assistance where parental income is below a certain threshold, or in the case of independent mature students, where the level of income of the student and his or her spouse warrants additional assistance by way of a grant. For student grant purposes, students are categorised according to their circumstances either as students...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 277, 283, 294 and 296 together. The further and higher education sectors have a number of key strategies in place at all levels to ensure that the educational opportunities being offered align with existing and future skills demands. These include policies designed to ensure a pipeline of suitably qualified higher education graduates and apprentices, and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research and Development (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 279, 285 and 295 together. 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. Ireland’s societal and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Labour Market (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 280 and 291 together. Continuing to develop a highly skilled workforce is one of my Department’s core strategic goals and ensuring this will be key to recovery and to Ireland’s future economic and social transformation. This is not just about young people or young learners. Having the right skills approaches in the workplace, as well as in...