Results 10,381-10,400 of 47,419 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (30 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: For student grant 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 student (i.e. assessed without reference to parental income and address) if he/she has attained the age of 23 on the 1st of January of the year of first entry to an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (30 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: Supporting the Department of Health with their health workforce planning work, and ensuring an appropriate pipeline of qualified healthcare workers within Ireland, is a major priority for my Department. The Student Grant Scheme (SUSI) is the principal financial support provided to students, and the Programme for Government contains commitments to review SUSI eligibility criteria,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (30 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: I am very conscious of the many challenges faced by students this year, including financial worries. As part of Budget 2022, I have secured an additional €15m to enhance the existing financial supports under the Student Grant Scheme to help deal with the increased costs of attending college. For the academic year 2022/23 this will mean:- - An increase to all student grant...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (30 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: I have engaged closely with student representatives on issues concerning the costs of higher education for students. It is important to be aware of the support available for students including state funding of the registration fee for an estimated 45% of students. In fact my Department will spend over €400 million on student supports in 2021 including the Student Grant scheme which...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (30 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: Significant progress has been made regarding the Framework for Consent in Higher Education, since it was first launched in 2019. The Framework aims to ensure the creation of an institutional campus culture which is safe, respectful and supportive. In August 2020, I wrote to all the Presidents of the publicly funded higher education institutions, with a view to strengthening institutional...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (30 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: It's a key objective of my Department that all students and learners are provided with the opportunities to acquire and develop the skills that allow them reach their potential in a way that meets the very broad and rapidly changing needs of our labour force, the economy and society. My objective is, therefore, to ensure that there is access into either further or higher education for each...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Legislative Measures (30 Nov 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 Bille na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú) 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Gender Equality (30 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: The HEA Centre of Excellence for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion is tasked with overseeing the implementation of the recommendations of the 2016 HEA National Review of Gender Equality and the Gender Action Plan 2018-2020, and the HEA now collects annual progress reports from HEIs. A summary report of progress on gender equality in Irish HEIs (2016 – 2019) was produced and is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (30 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: Munster Technological University (MTU) received approval in principle in December 2019 for exchequer funding in the amount of €18.75m for extensive upgrade and refurbishment of the 1974 Building at its Cork Campus. This funding represents a key investment for the Campus and will further boost the role played by MTU as a driver of economic development in the southern region. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (30 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: The support and wellbeing of our students is a priority for my Department, particularly in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the increased stress and pressure resulting from it. In 2020, a total of €5 million was allocated to the higher education institutions to support student mental health and wellbeing. HEIs were requested to allocate funds towards student-facing services,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (30 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: In considering fees, it is important to note that the State currently provides very substantial financial support to undergraduate students in higher education towards the cost of their studies. This commitment is demonstrated through the high level of fees support amounting to in excess of €540m per annum provided by the State for large numbers of students participating in higher...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Commissions of Investigation (30 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: There are no commissions of investigation currently ongoing in the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (30 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: The matter of health workforce planning and ensuring an appropriate pipeline of qualified healthcare workers within Ireland, is a major priority for my Department. This would be a priority even in normal times, but the COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant strain on our healthcare sector, further underscores its importance. The Programme for Government commits the Department of Health to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Strategies (30 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: The Adult Literacy for Life, or ALL, Strategy sets out a cross-government, cross-economy, cross-society approach to address this priority. It sets out the detailed pathway to achieve the vision of an Ireland where every adult has the necessary literacy, numeracy and digital literacy to engage in society and realise their potential. I believe that the Strategy can be transformative in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (30 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: Inclusion is one of the core strategic goals for my Department. My ambition is to ensure that we provide supports and opportunities for learning to all. This means recognising the needs of vulnerable learners, the most marginalised and those with special and additional needs. A range of supports and measures are in place for learners with disabilities; some of these supports are targeted...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (30 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: Delivery of the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 is progressing, overseen by a Steering Group comprising representatives of SOLAS, the HEA, QQI and the Department. Key developments so far this year include: - Work on the establishment of the National Apprenticeship Office (NAO) with a draft Memorandum of Understanding prepared by SOLAS and HEA due to be submitted to their...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (30 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: The development and progression of technological universities (TUs) is an established policy objective of Government in the context of overarching national strategy on higher education landscape restructuring and this is underscored in the commitment in the current Programme for Government. However, it remains a matter for the governing bodies of autonomous Institutes of Technology as...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (30 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: The support and wellbeing of our students is a priority for my Department, particularly in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the increased stress and pressure resulting from it. In 2020, a total of €5 million was provided to address student mental health and wellbeing in higher education. HEIs were requested to distribute funding to student-facing services such as: - Recruitment of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (30 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: Inclusion is one of the core strategic goals for my Department. My ambition is to ensure that we provide supports and opportunities for learning to all. This means recognising the needs of persons on low income and those with special and additional needs. A range of supports and measures are in place for learners with low income and with disabilities; some of these supports are targeted...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (30 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: Where an apprentice pays an Annual Student Contribution, he amount of ASC charged to apprentices is calculated on a pro rata basis of the time which they spend in the institution during the academic year. In cases where training is delivered in an Education and Training Board there is no contribution required from the apprentice. For craft apprenticeships, the ASC charged is typically one...