Results 10,181-10,200 of 45,539 for speaker:Simon Harris

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Further and Higher Education (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: Again, I do not wish to pre-empt the outcome of the report. I have said before on the record of the House that I do not favour the model in place in Northern Ireland and do not want to see our students coming out of college laden with debt. I do not want to see the fear or perception of debt being a barrier to access for certain families either. I am very pleased we have the SUSI review...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Technological Universities (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Griffin not just for the question but also for his support and work on the delivery of this technological university, not just in recent months but over a sustained period with my predecessor, Deputy McHugh, and others. This is a potential game changer for the south west of our country. The opening of Ireland's newest technological university on 1 January, just days away now,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Technological Universities (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: I very much look forward to visiting with the Deputy Munster technological university and its Kerry campus. I am particularly pleased that in the past week we have been able to announce the appointment of the new president for the technological university, only the second female president of a university in Ireland in about 450 years, a brilliant and eminent person by the name of Professor...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Support Schemes (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: I share the Deputy's passion for making sure that everybody on the island of Ireland has access to higher education and that we co-operate and collaborate. I really believe in this. I had a very good meeting with Universities Ireland, which represents all the universities on the island of Ireland. I have asked their representatives to come up with a list of areas where they believe we can...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Healy-Rae for what is genuinely a very important and timely question. Many students are asking me, as they are probably asking the Deputy, what the college year will look like. I have to be very honest with people for the sake of clarity and certainty, even if it is an answer we may not like to give. At level 3, level 4 and level 5 of the plan for living with Covid-19...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: I know the Deputy is trying to provide certainty for people and I agree with it. I am not telling anybody not to take accommodation. Some students will decide to take accommodation to use the library or because they want to live away from home. People have a variety of reasons to do different things. I am telling people what college life will look like at level 3, level 4 and level 5,...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: I know what the Deputy is saying. I do not mean to be pedantic but in the interests of clarity, I note that colleges will be open but the lectures will take place online. I say that because they were not open in March. The libraries and sports facilities are now open. Students can go into the campuses in small groups to meet a lecturer, attend a tutorial or debate a point. I want to see...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Further and Higher Education (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: This is an important question on an issue that has perhaps been overlooked or messed around with politically for far too long. The previous Oireachtas decided on another review, so an all-party committee got together, looked at the Cassells report and asked for an economic evaluation. That is the process the Deputy is asking me about. The development of a sustainable funding model is...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Third Level Education (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Shanahan for his question. I acknowledge that we had a good meeting recently in regard to the south east and are due another one. I have not forgotten that. It is a priority for my Department to support higher education institutions in their critical role as drivers of social and economic development in their regions. Within this overall context, the creation of...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Third Level Education (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: Certainly not from me. I think Deputy Shanahan would be in favour of political patronage if it were to do with the south east, so there is a slight irony in that remark. My Department is working with both WIT and IT Carlow on a number of projects, including, as I said, the engineering, computing and general teaching building in WIT. It is the largest project in the entire country within...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Third Level Education (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: I am absolutely determined to deliver a technological university for the south east. It is key from an access to education point of view for Waterford and the south-east region. It is also a key driver of regional development and balanced regional development. It will be a game changer for the south east. As the Deputy knows, I have made a number of appointments and decisions in regard to...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Support Schemes (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for her question. In recognition of the challenges facing full-time third level students, the Government has approved once-off funding of €50 million to provide additional financial assistance in this academic year. The funding was provided in budget 2021 in recognition of the exceptional situation students have experienced due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Financial...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Support Schemes (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: On the financial question, I will get the Deputy a note on that. A €50 million scheme was approved by Government. I have dealt with how SUSI students will receive their funding and I will not dwell on that. In regard to non-SUSI students, if we may call them that, higher education institutions will contact eligible students as soon as is practicable. I have made clear that I...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Conway-Walsh for raising this matter. I acknowledge it is an issue she has rightly pursued for some time. The short answer is that I have been informed that all universities are now offering refunds for university-owned accommodation. If the Deputy has individual instances where that is not the case, I ask that she bring them to the attention of my office and I will bring...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy and will pursue the two specific issues she has raised and any individual cases that she wishes to bring to my attention. My view on this is the same as hers, namely, that in the case of college-owned accommodation, refunds should be issued. In fairness to our universities, I understand it has been a very challenging year for them but it has been an extremely challenging...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: I have tried to provide a variety of ways to assist students and their families financially within the resources and levers available to me. I agree that any student accommodation provider that is not acting reasonably will not be forgotten by students and their families. People should reflect on that. Figures show that in Ireland, unlike other countries, approximately 38% of students...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: The principal support provided by the Department in financial terms is the Student Grant Scheme. Under 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. The decision on eligibility for a student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: In recognition of the challenges facing full time third level students the Government has approved once off funding of €50m to provide additional financial assistance in this academic year. The funding was provided in Budget 2021, in recognition of the exceptional situation they have experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Financial assistance will be provided to all EU...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: My Department’s Statement of Strategy which is due to be published in the New Year will establish a framework for progress in the further and higher education and research sectors for the next three years. This offers a very timely opportunity to set out the task of bridgeing the gap between education and the economy and helping future proof our economy and our people to face the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: Under the Haddington Road Agreement an Expert Group on Fixed-Term and Part-Time Employment in Lecturing in third Level Education in Ireland was established to assist in addressing concerns raised about precarious employment by Union representatives. In May 2016 the Chairperson of the Expert Group, Mr. Michael Cush S.C., published his report. The Department issued directions to the sector on...