Results 21-40 of 33,673 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (5 Mar 2024)

Simon Harris: The information requested by the Deputy is contained in the table below. The data was sourced from the HEA Student Records System. The table shows the proportion of enrolments in the Royal College of Surgeons by their domicile group for the most recent five years available. There has been substantial additionality in healthcare and medicine programmes for Irish and EU students. Along with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Disability Services (5 Mar 2024)

Simon Harris: Since the introduction of the Disability Act in 2005, building regulations have been updated with Universal Design in mind and a more comprehensive technical guidance document is now in place. ‘Technical Guidance Document M – Access and Use’, or TGD Part M which came into force on 1st January 2012 describes the minimum guidance to illustrate compliance with the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Disability Services (5 Mar 2024)

Simon Harris: Under Section 25 of Disability Act 2005, public bodies must ensure that public buildings are accessible "as far as practicable" to persons with disabilities. This requirement is outlined in part M of the Building Regulations Act, and public buildings must abide by any amendment made to part M within 10 years of that amendment. All capital projects including new construction, material...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (5 Mar 2024)

Simon Harris: The information requested by Deputy Cairns is presently being collated by SOLAS. An answer will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Staff (5 Mar 2024)

Simon Harris: In November 2022, I appointed Dr Andrea Johnson and Mr David Cagney to undertake an independent National Review of State Supports for PhD Researchers. This is the first time that State supports for PhD students have been considered holistically in this manner. During their exercise they met with over 35 stakeholder organisations, one of which was the PWO, and they received over 750 online...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (5 Mar 2024)

Simon Harris: UCC is an autonomous body established under statute. As an autonomous body, it is a matter for UCC to prioritise its capital projects accordingly and the expenditure of the University’s income (public and private) is a matter for the individual institution and this includes responsibility for ensuring appropriate policies and procedures are in place to oversee the use of its resources....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (5 Mar 2024)

Simon Harris: Under the terms of the Student Grant 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, progression, previous academic attainment and means. The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: An Teanga Gaeilge (5 Mar 2024)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 802 and 803 together. Leithdháileann mo Roinn maoiniú athfhillteach ar an Údarás um Ard-Oideachas (HEA) le haghaidh eisíocaíochta dírí d’institiúidí ardoideachais an HEA. Leithdháileann HEA é sin mar bhlocdheontas d’institiúidí ardoideachais chun tacú le costais phá...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Properties (5 Mar 2024)

Simon Harris: My Department's offices are spread across three locations, Stephen's Green, Marlborough St and Tullamore. The Office of Public Works sources and funds the Accommodation for each of these properties. The information in respect of aegis bodies, within the scope of the Deputy’s question, is not held by my Department. Contact details for these bodies are set out in the attached...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (5 Mar 2024)

Simon Harris: I recently received Government approval for an overarching policy approach for student accommodation in Ireland. This policy looks at a number of ways to stimulate supply of student accommodation, including standardised design, continued promotion of the rent-a-room scheme and recognition of the Government's commitment to reactivating vacant and derelict properties. My officials are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (5 Mar 2024)

Simon Harris: The information requested by Deputy McAuliffe is presently being collated by SOLAS. An answer will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (5 Mar 2024)

Simon Harris: UCC is an autonomous body established under statute. As an autonomous body, it is a matter for UCC to prioritise its capital projects accordingly and the expenditure of the University’s income (public and private) is a matter for the individual institution and this includes responsibility for ensuring appropriate policies and procedures are in place to oversee the use of its resources....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (5 Mar 2024)

Simon Harris: Recognising that cost is a barrier to education, one of this Department’s priorities is to ensure students and their families can benefit from financial support to help with the cost of third level education, including apprenticeship. Access to Apprenticeship One of the five overarching objectives of the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 is "Apprenticeship for All”,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (29 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: The Deputy will be aware that Higher Education Institutions are autonomous bodies; responsible for assessing student applications and determining the tuition fee payable by individual students. In this regard, as the Deputy will appreciate, it is not possible for my Department to offer guidance on the fee arrangements that may apply for individual students, such as those that may apply in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Institutes of Technology (28 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: Awaiting reply from Department.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (28 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: I have a singular focus on securing sustained reductions in waiting times for apprenticeship training. There has been a significant reduction in apprentices waiting longer than 6 months for their off the job training. The backlog stood at 3,817 in January 2024. It was as high as 5,212 in August 2023. The progress achieved results from a cross-sectoral plan put in place by the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (27 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: I have been working with Minister O’Brien on this matter and I really want to thank him for his continued support. We both agree the actions of these providers is unacceptable. While it may suit some specific third level students, it is not desirable or affordable for the majority of the student population and we intend to take a number of actions to mitigate this barrier to accessing...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (27 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: The Deputy will be aware that over the course of 2023, Kerry ETB (KETB) were supported by SOLAS in developing their Preliminary Business Case (PBC) proposal for Killarney under the FET College of the Future Major Projects fund. The development of a robust PBC is fundamental to the requirements of the Infrastructure Guidelines. KETB submitted their business case for their FET College of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (27 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: It is anticipated that any borrowing framework for TUs would in the first instance prioritise the provision of student accommodation in line with commitments in the Government's Housing for All plan. Housing for All contains a number of key actions relating to the development of additional student accommodation supply supported by the State. It also identifies the need to examine...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (27 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: I am strongly committed to meeting electro-mobility skills requirements in light of the role of electric vehicles in supporting the achievement of Government's climate action objectives. In this context, my Department is continuing to work closely with Longford Westmeath Education and Training Board (LWETB) to establish a national eMobility Capability Centre in Mullingar. Last November...