Results 9,781-9,800 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 26 — Education (Revised)
Vote 45 — Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Revised) (23 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: We do not have that information to hand as this is a discussion of the Revised Estimates but we can certainly get it for the Deputy through the HEA. There is no issue with that. We do not have that level of granularity for a discussion on Vote 45.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 26 — Education (Revised)
Vote 45 — Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Revised) (23 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: That is entirely reasonable and correct but there are very clear ways of measuring it. We know, for example, how many people took up a place last year through the CAO in the first round. We saw the increase in the number of students getting level 6 and level 7 offers. There is no doubt whatsoever that more students went to college this year than the previous year. That is a point worth...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 26 — Education (Revised)
Vote 45 — Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Revised) (23 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: In the context of the Wexford campus, I am pleased to tell the committee that Institute of Technology Carlow has submitted to the Higher Education Authority a significant amount of documentation and information on a site it is pursuing. That process needs to be gone through in a robust manner but I am hopeful for a positive outcome. The Government's commitment is crystal clear in that we...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 26 — Education (Revised)
Vote 45 — Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Revised) (23 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: Deputy Conway-Walsh makes an important point. First, I agree with her that we have an opportunity as a country now to have a conversation about how we make sure we are producing enough graduates to provide the level of public services that our citizens will expect and deserve, post Covid. That is why my Department is working, not just in its own silo but also with other Departments, to...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 26 — Education (Revised)
Vote 45 — Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Revised) (23 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: My apologies but I cannot write as quickly as the Deputy can ask questions and I missed those questions earlier. On teacher training, we are still working with the Department of Education to determine exactly how we are going to address this issue. We have responsibility for third level in its entirety from a policy point of view but obviously the Department of Education has a very active...

Young People and Access to Further and Higher Education: Motion [Private Members] (11 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after “Dáil Éireann” and substitute the following: “notes that: — the establishment of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science is a clear demonstration of the strength of the Government’s commitment to deliver on the far-reaching goals for the entire tertiary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (11 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: Continuity for the most part of further and higher education and research has been maintained throughout the pandemic, despite the suspension of most on-site activities. Over time a blended model of learning has become the dominant mode with varying levels of onsite and online delivery aligned to public health advice and to the needs of different disciplines and different learner cohorts. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ministerial Meetings (11 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: The Higher Education Authority and Quality Qualifications Ireland co-chair the National Advisory Forum for Ireland’s Framework for Doctoral Education. Membership of the Forum also comprises representatives of the higher education institutions, research funding organisations, IUA, THEA, student representative, and the Department. It was agreed at the last meeting of the Advisory Forum...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Support Schemes (11 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: Under the Department's student grant scheme, eligible candidates may receive funding provided they are attending an approved course at an approved institution as defined in the scheme. The definition of an approved institution is set out in Section 7 of the Student Support Act 2011 and Regulation 3 of the Student Support Regulations 2020. Private colleges operated on a for-profit basis are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Support Schemes (11 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 166 and 168 together. The main support available to assist postgraduate students with the cost of attending higher education is the Student Grant Scheme and the Programme for Government committed to addressing the gap in postgraduate grants. From September 2021 the postgraduate fee grant will increase to €3,500 from €2,000. This increase will...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Unions (11 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: The contribution to student unions is normally paid via a student levy collected by the Higher Education Institution. This levy is not covered by the student contribution charge or the SUSI grant. I understand that the TU Dublin Students Union and TU Dublin have now agreed a funding model that will apply for this academic year and the next two academic years.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (11 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: Equity of Access to Higher Education continues to be a national priority for the Government and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. The Programme for Government reflects the importance of supporting learners at risk of education disadvantage and learners with special education needs in higher education. The vision of National Plan for Equity...

Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Statements (10 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Connolly for her two very specific questions. With regard to the UL issue, I will honestly have to come back to the Deputy to see whether the HEA has now been made aware, and I thank the Deputy for the reminder on it because I want to know. My logic in my letter to the Deputy in December was that once the HEA had become aware, there was then a route from me to become aware...

Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Statements (10 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: In the context of any governance legislation I bring forward to protect whistleblowers, openness and transparency will always be really important to me. I served on the Committee of Public Accounts. I saw the great lengths whistleblowers had to go to in this country and where they were not always protected and I accept more work is to be done. I am delighted people make protected...

Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Statements (10 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Niamh Smyth for her question and for coming along on my virtual visit to Cavan Institute. I am really looking forward to visiting the facility in person. I fully recognise the need to progress that capital project and I am very eager to work with the Deputy and her Oireachtas colleagues who represent Cavan and Monaghan in order to get that done. Cavan Institute is an example...

Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Statements (10 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: I will certainly give consideration to the issue of re-establishing the educational disadvantage committee. If the Deputy wishes to communicate with me further on that in writing, I will be happy to look at what she has to say. Most importantly, I want to put money into tackling educational disadvantage and I am very pleased that we now have a ring-fenced fund for mitigating such...

Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Statements (10 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Costello for his paper and the proposal that he sent me and the amount of work that has gone into this. I will take up his offer to meet EPIC with him. I would welcome that opportunity. We want to break down barriers. We want education to be for all. I accept we have much work to do on that. Let us do that. The Deputy's proposal merits serious consideration. I wish...

Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Statements (10 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: I will respond to Deputy O'Connor as well, if that is okay. I thank Deputy Dillon for his questions. I am really excited about the development of this new university for the west and the north-west. It will be transformational, not only in terms of access to education but also in creating a real powerhouse for jobs, investment and regional development. When one looks at the map of...

Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Statements (10 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Lowry for his questions. I also thank him for keeping in touch with me, the Government, Limerick Institute of Technology and Athlone Institute of Technology on this project. This is transformational. When we talk about Limerick Institute of Technology and Athlone Institute of Technology, people automatically think about Limerick and Athlone when the former obviously has a...

Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Statements (10 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy O'Dowd for his constant work with me, particularly on North-South issues on which there is potential to do an awful lot more. The Deputy is correct on the exchange of students between North and South as well. There is no reason people from Queen's University Belfast could not come to DkIT and vice versa. That is good on many levels, educational and otherwise. I am very much...