Results 10,421-10,440 of 45,539 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland (12 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: Grant assistance for students participating in further and higher education is provided for under the Student Grant Scheme and Student Support Regulations which are published under powers contained in the Student Support Act 2011. The student grant scheme administered by SUSI, provides grants to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (12 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: Students pursuing GEM programmes do so as second degree courses and consequently are not eligible for free fees funding or for student grants. However, in order to widen access to GEM programmes, and give assistance towards the financial burden on each student pursuing these programmes, the fees of participating EU students are partly subsidised by the State via the Higher Education Authority...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (12 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: I am conscious of the challenges faced by students in relation to student accommodation this year due to financial pressures and the blended learning format of the 2020/21 academic year. Throughout the last number of months my Department has been engaging with representatives from the higher education sector to address the challenges faced by students in this difficult time. My Department, in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Technological Universities Act 2018 (Section 36) (Appointed Day) Order 2020: Motion (12 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: I know the committee is tight on time. While this is a technical motion, in many ways it is a very important step because what it will effectively do is seek the start date for Ireland's second only technological university, and the first outside of Dublin. It is a key priority in the programme for Government to create and progress technological universities. I am very pleased, therefore,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Technological Universities Act 2018 (Section 36) (Appointed Day) Order 2020: Motion (12 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: I will respond quickly. I welcome the bipartisan and significant support for the agenda of technological universities. In and of itself, that sends an important message to all those across our country who are working on trying to get technological universities over the line. A large amount of work goes into such a project. It is not just about merging institutions and changing...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Revised) (12 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: The Chairman should feel free to cut me off too, if necessary. I will be brief so as not to take time from members. I am very grateful for the opportunity to address the committee, along with my ministerial colleague, Deputy Niall Collins, as part of its consideration of my Department's Further Revised Estimate for 2020. This is the first time we have had Vote 45 constituted; it is a new...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Revised) (12 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: I will have an opportunity to outline the technological university agenda at the second part of this meeting. I am very excited about it. It will be about more than just access to university education no matter where people live in our country, which is important. The impact on regional development could be very significant. The Deputy referenced the south east of our country. It has no...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Revised) (12 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: I am very glad the Deputy has asked me this. I am very worried, as I know he is, about the mental health and well-being of our students. I am also worried about the dropout rate. This is why I made the comments that I did. Our colleges have been great and they have followed public health advice. They have stepped up to the plate and acted in a co-ordinated manner. They have linked with...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Revised) (12 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: We do have a new Department, so I am pleased to say that we have new announcements and new funding, but I will share with the committee a useful document that I had done for myself which outlines the main features of budget 2021 and can help track where the additionality is. I will circulate a copy of that to the committee through the clerk at the end of this meeting. On the transfer of...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Revised) (12 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: On the issue of software costs, I must have a separate conversation with the Deputy, because he clearly has a concern in respect of some examples and I am very happy to take them up. As a Department we engage very regularly with the Irish Universities Association, the Technological Higher Education Association and directly with the institutions, so if there are specific programmes, I would...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Revised) (12 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: On the Deputy's final point first, I am really pleased with how the incentive scheme is going, and I will get the committee the latest figures. However, the last time I checked, approximately 1,000 new apprentices had taken up that scheme, so it really has worked and I have received very good feedback from both apprentices and businesses who have availed of it. It was due to run out in...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Revised) (12 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: I will comment on the student accommodation and will ask the Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins, to comment on the apprenticeship issue. I will level with the Deputy here and I am sure he will remind me of these comments in the future. I do not think our policy on student accommodation is working. I do not think it is robust enough and the State does not have enough levers to pull. I...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Revised) (12 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for his leadership and many years of work on the issue, about which I feel very passionate. One of the reasons for people not knowing about it is the institutionalised stigma that exists. We talk about destigmatising illiteracy and the likes, as we should, but we as leaders are not talking about it enough because we are rightly busy promoting our country as being a...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Revised) (12 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: I do not want anyone thinking I am getting a residence out of it. I proudly live in Greystones but the new Department is currently based temporarily in Leeson Lane in the Department of Transport. That is where we are squatting and the Office of Public Works, OPW, is trying to identify some physical accommodation. The fact that the overwhelming majority of people are working from home in...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Revised) (12 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: I think it was Dublin City University and Trinity but I will check that. I will follow up what the Deputy says on UL and Sligo. It is my clear view that if it is university-owned or institute of technology-owned campus accommodation, they should be providing refunds or coming to an alternative flexible arrangement. I am disappointed to hear that. After I meet the presidents next week, I...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland (11 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: As part of a comprehensive customer service and communications strategy provided by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), to ensure that all necessary avenues are open to applicants to receive the information they need, a dedicated email and phone line service is provided by SUSI for Oireachtas members. This was established to meet an identified need for applicants who choose to engage...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Courses Accreditation (11 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: GMIT offers bachelor of business in rural enterprise and agri-business programmes which result in awards at both Levels 7 and 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). On successful completion of years 1 and 2 of these programmes, students may apply to Teagasc for a letter of equivalence to a QQI Green Cert (Specific Purpose Certificate in Farm Business Administration). Specific...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Staff (11 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 177 and 178 together. Universities, including University of Limerick (UL), are autonomous institutions with responsibility for the management of their day-to-day affairs which may in some instances, require the examination and reporting on specific matters within the university. In that context, and as previously advised, the report referred to by the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (11 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: A summary of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science funding allocations for 2021 is set out in Chapter 9 (pages 83 to 88) of the 2021 Expenditure Report that was published on 13 October 2020 as part of 2021 Budget day documentation. This sets out the main areas identified for funding in 2021, with the caveat that this does not reflect transfers of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (11 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: The renting / leasing of Government offices is the responsibility of the Property Management Services in the Office of Public Works, which acts as an agent for all Government Departments. The number, terms and cost of the leases is a matter for the OPW. The information requested by the Deputy concerning the cost of rental of office space from the company in question in regard to my...