Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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379. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline his key policy achievements in his Department since 27 June 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32719/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science was founded in August 2020. My Department has achieved a number of key policy initiatives since its establishment which are helping to transform the landscape for tertiary education and for research and innovation in Ireland, providing a foundation for a leading knowledge-driven economy equipped for the future world of work as well as a bedrock for sustainable development of a more inclusive society for all. Key achievements include:

- The national Further Education and Training (FET) Strategy 2020-24, “Future FET: Transforming Learning”was launched in July 2020 and is framed around a vision for future FET in Ireland. Priorities for the sector are set out across three core pillars: building skills; creating pathways, and; fostering inclusion. There is also a strong focus on enabling themes, including staffing, capital investment and measurement and data.

- The “Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025”was launched in April 2021 and sets out a roadmap to fully embedding apprenticeship as an option for employers and learners across all sectors of the economy. Under the Plan, a National Apprenticeship Office will be established as a joint office of SOLAS and the HEA. Employer and partner engagement will continue through the establishment of a National Apprenticeship Alliance.

- My Department has been leading in collaboration with further and higher education stakeholders to provide direction and guidance throughout the pandemic with a focus on continuity in provision of service in a manner consistent with public health advice. Most recently I published the plan for a safe return to campus for September 2021, with the proposal being for mainly on-site activity for all students, learners, and staff. In addition, there will be some on-site provision over the summer months including on-site presence for apprentices, English Language Education, and the resumption of research activity, with appropriate protective measures in place.

- A €168 million package was also provided for third-level institutions and students, in order to cover costs incurred during the pandemic and to support students returning to college, including a doubling of the student assistant fund and €15m to support student access to technology including laptops.

- A public consultation to inform the development of the next National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education was launched in April 2021. The third National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education (2015-2021) sets out the Department’s current strategy to address underrepresentation in higher education by those groups identified in the plan. The vision of the current National Access Plan (NAP) is to ensure that the student body entering into, participating in and completing higher education at all levels reflects the diversity and social mix of Ireland's population.

- Government approval was obtained for the General Scheme of a Bill to reform the Higher Education Authority legislation and the General Scheme was published in May 2021. This marks a very significant milestone in a process to reform out-dated legislation and to put in place a new system with an appropriate balance between autonomy and accountability.

- In May 2021 Technological University status was granted to Athlone and Limerick Institutes of Technology. This is the third Technological University to be created since 2019 and shows a significant advancement of the programme to transform the landscape of higher education in Ireland, also critical in the catalysing greater regional collaboration and development.

- A National Consultation on the future of research and innovation in Ireland was launched in June 2021. This includes an online public consultation process which will take place over the coming weeks. In addition, key stakeholders across research, innovation, industry and civic society, will engage in a number of discussion fora. The outcomes from these consultation processes will mean stakeholders and the wider public will have a key voice to help inform the National Research and Innovation Strategy.

- A number of key interventions have helped in the context of the increased need for upskilling and reskilling in the context of the economic fallout from the pandemic, including initiatives under the July 2020 Stimulus package which provided an additional 35,500 places in the higher and further education sector and with 10,000 free courses for unemployed, self-employed or returners to work under Springboard+ 2021 announced in June 2021.

- A consultation on the 10-year Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy Strategy was undertaken in late 2020. Work on the development of this Strategy is ongoing with SOLAS and the Strategy is due to be launched in the near future. A review of the SUSI grant system is also currently underway. The review will determine if the grant system reflects the realities of the current student experience with a view to facilitating access and underpinning an inclusive approach.