Results 9,501-9,520 of 46,267 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: Maintaining and developing a strong supply of STEM graduates is critical to Ireland’s growth as a world-class centre of innovation and research. Ensuring that we have good gender balance in STEM is a key part of meeting this supply. It is also a worthwhile policy goal in its own right, given all that we know about the importance of diversity in STEM, as well as our desire to ensure...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Science Foundation Ireland (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: I assume the Deputy is referring to the research infrastructure calls that Science Foundation Ireland make from time to time. I should explain at the outset that the management of such calls is a matter for SFI, based on their own processes and having regard to appropriate advice and expertise, including from international experts. The Infrastructure Call is a very important programme....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research and Development (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: It is imperative that our research and innovation system must be open and have strong international collaboration links. Membership of leading international research organisations is an important mechanism for facilitating this engagement. As part of the Innovation 2020 strategy, the Government committed to initiating discussions with several international research organisations. Four...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: I’m acutely aware of the challenges facing students in securing accommodation this year, and my Department and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage are working closely together to address these issues. The shortage of accommodation for students is happening in the context of the wider housing crisis. In September the Government published Housing For All, a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: I was delighted to see Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest open its doors at the start of the month to become the third technological university in the State. The communities in areas where there are campuses of the new TU will benefit from a range of benefits over time. The universities will attract more students, they will help communities create and retain skills and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: I provided the Deputy with details of the funding of the Connacht Ulster Alliance TU development consortium since 2013 as recently as March. On 8 September the HEA announced funding of€25.7million under the Technological University Transformation Fund (TUFT) to relevant higher education institutions in support of progression towards TU status or for the post-establishment development...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: My Department places a fundamental focus on working to deliver suitably qualified and adequate numbers of graduates to meet the demands of the workplace. A core focus of the Department's Statement of Strategy is to enable individuals to access the skills required to progress in a way that meets the needs of our economy as it evolves and recovers. To meet the different existing and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: Following Government approval, I published A Safe Return: Plan for a safe return to on-site Further and Higher Education and Research in 2021/22 on June 15th. The Safe Return Plan can be accessed at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/bcd91-a-safe-return-to-on-site-fur ther-and-higher-education-and-research/. The Plan, predicated on the sector’s full commitment to a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine. For the current academic year (2021/22) the application process is still open. However, I can confirm that as of 10th October 2021, SUSI had received 94,800 applications and assessed 85,700 with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy is aware, I recently visited the Mary Immaculate College (MIC) Thurles campus to see first-hand the campus, and meet the staff and students, who benefit from a range of quality facilities on site. I understand from my visit that there are a variety of projects envisaged for the Thurles campus. All such works should form part of the wider MIC capital planning process, which the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research and Development (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: On 30 April 2021 the TUSEI consortium, comprising IT Carlow and Waterford IT, submitted an application under Section 29 of the Technological Universities Act 2018 seeking an order to dissolve both Institutes of Technology and to establish in their place of a technological university to serve the South East region. I duly appointed an expert advisory panel to assess the application. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: I was delighted to see Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest open its doors at the start of the month to become the third technological university in the State. The communities in areas where there are campuses of the new TU will benefit from a range of benefits over time. The universities will attract more students, they will help communities create and retain skills and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: In line with the commitments contained in the National Economic Plan, my Department is currently engaged in a review of key elements of skills policy landscape in Ireland. This work includes examination of how best to maximise the effectiveness of the skills architecture in place, including the National Skills Council and Regional Skills Fora as well as a review of the broader policy...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 37, 54, 83, 91 and 93 together. The Student Grant Scheme is a critical financial support for students participating in further and higher education. As in any statutory scheme, a core principle of the scheme is that there is consistency of approach and an equitable treatment for applicants as part of the means assessment process. All applications are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: The Student Grant Scheme is a critical financial support for students participating in further and higher education. As in any statutory scheme, a core principle of the scheme is that there is consistency of approach and an equitable treatment for applicants as part of the means assessment process. All applications are assessed nationally with reference to the terms and conditions of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: In July I announced Government approval for €105 million for the third level sector to safely reopen in September 2021 in line with public health advice. The package will include financial support for further and higher education to return on-site safely in line with public health advice and additional supports for students in further and higher education. At this time it is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Cross-Border Co-operation (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: There are already examples of further education colleges collaborating with the regional colleges in Northern Ireland, with one of the most notable being those colleges in Donegal ETB and the North West Regional College as part of the North West Strategic Growth Partnership. I attach great importance to collaborations of this nature are important, not least that they recognise the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: Officials from the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science worked with the Department of Housing, Heritage and Local Government on legislation to lower upfront payments required from students in securing accommodation, and protect against loss should accommodation be vacated. The Residential Tenancies (No.2) Act 2021 was signed into law on 9th July...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (13 Oct 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 Official Languages (Amendment) Bill 2019 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 access...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: The principal support provided by the Department in financial terms is the Student Grant Scheme administered by SUSI. Under the terms of the Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. SUSI...