Results 10,201-10,220 of 46,456 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Visas (23 Jun 2021)

Simon Harris: The processing of US student visas, and the provision of appointments at US Embassies, is solely a matter for the US authorities. Officials in my department have brought this issue to the attention of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Foreign Affairs have informed us that they have raised the issue with the US Embassy in Dublin, encouraging them to process student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (22 Jun 2021)

Simon Harris: The Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme (AIS) was introduced in July 2020 to support employers during the COVID-19 period.  It provides an employer grant totalling €3,000 per new apprentice registered. This comprises an initial €2,000 payment on registration followed by a further €1,000 payment after the first year's employment where that apprentice is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Staff (22 Jun 2021)

Simon Harris: In line with the Universities Act, 1997, third-level institutions have autonomy in relation to human resource policies, subject to compliance with Government policy in respect of employment numbers and pay policy.  Employers in the higher education sector are required to operate in accordance with the provisions of national industrial relations agreements, including...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (22 Jun 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 444, 445, 446, 447 and 448 together. The Student Grant Appeals Board (the Board) was established under Section 25 of the Student Support Act 2011 and under Section 21(4)(a) is independent in the performance of its functions.  The current Board comprises of a Chairperson and 10 ordinary members. Under Section 25(14) of the Act, administrative...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (22 Jun 2021)

Simon Harris: The Irish Research Council (IRC) Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship provides outstanding students with the opportunity to direct their own research at the early-career stage, working with a supervisor, in their chosen area of interest. The Programme is highly competitive, with an average success rate of 18% over the past five years. All applications received under the IRC...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (22 Jun 2021)

Simon Harris: Springboard+ 2021 was launched on 14th June 2021, providing 10,158 places on 294 courses. As a result of multi-annual funding of graduate conversion courses, this leads to a combined total of 13,128 places in 399 courses available in the 2021/22 academic year under Springboard+ 2021 and HCI Pillar 1. Springboard+ 2021 courses are at Level 6 (Certificate) to Level 9 (Masters) on the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (22 Jun 2021)

Simon Harris: The information requested by the Deputy is currently being compiled. I will arrange for an early response to issue directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (22 Jun 2021)

Simon Harris: The National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education 2015-2021 set a participation target of 10% for students who are new entrants to higher education and their basis for admission is a further education and training qualification for 2019.  The 2018 Progress Review of the NAP shows that participation increased from 6.6% at the commencement of the NAP to 7.3% in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (22 Jun 2021)

Simon Harris: The third National Access Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education (2015 – 2019) was launched in December 2015. A progress review published in 2018 extended the lifetime of the current Plan to 2021. A commitment of this current National Access Plan (NAP) was to hold annual forums to report progress to stakeholders on progress made under NAP and to inform future...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (22 Jun 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 454 and 455 together. Up until recently, the HEA collected data on the socioeconomic background of students through the Equal Access Survey, which is an annual voluntary set of questions asked of all first-year undergraduate new entrant students to HEA funded higher education institutions. Since 2017/18, the use of Deprivation Index Scores (DIS) has...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (22 Jun 2021)

Simon Harris: The table below provides a summary of full-time mature new entrants in higher education (as a percentage of all new entrants) since 2015/2016. The National Access Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education 2015-2021 (NAP) was launched in December 2015, and aims to ensure that the student body entering, participating in, and completing higher education at all levels reflects the diversity...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (22 Jun 2021)

Simon Harris: The National Access Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education 2015-2021 (NAP) was launched in December 2015, and aims to ensure that the student body entering, participating in, and completing higher education at all levels reflects the diversity and social mix of Ireland’s population.  Students with disabilities are specifically identified as a target group within the NAP. A...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (22 Jun 2021)

Simon Harris: The HEA collect data on enrolments for undergraduate and postgraduate which includes remote learners. The table attached gives the percentage of undergraduate and postgraduate students in each of the years requested.  The total proportion of students studying on a part-time or flexible basis has increased from 19.2% in 2014/15 to 23% in 2019/20.The data given for the 2019/20 year is the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (22 Jun 2021)

Simon Harris: The number of Traveller students in higher education comes from the Equal Access Survey which is an annual voluntary set of questions asked of all first-year undergraduate new entrant students to HEA funded higher education institutions.  Gathering accurate data on Irish Traveller participation is difficult and is influenced by varying response rates to the survey. In 2020, the HEA...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (22 Jun 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 460 and 461 together. On 22 July 2020, the Government approved a €168 million package of supports for the further and higher education sectors to deal with the impacts of COVID-19. €15 million of this was earmarked for devices to support disadvantaged students. The decision to allocate funding in this area responded to concerns raised by...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Science Foundation Ireland (22 Jun 2021)

Simon Harris: I should first explain that the relationship between Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)  Research Centres and their industry partner should not be perceived as purely transactional.  The agreements (Contract Research Agreement) that companies enter with SFI Research Centres are to engage in deeply collaborative research projects.    As of end 2020 1,034 Contract Research...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Science Foundation Ireland (22 Jun 2021)

Simon Harris: The number of academic staff working within Science Foundation Ireland Research Centres is 757.  I assume that by “PhD researchers” the Deputy means PhD students of which there are currently 1,231 carrying out their work at SFI Research Centres. A detailed breakdown of the number of staff on permanent contracts or otherwise is not available. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Budgets (22 Jun 2021)

Simon Harris: The data in the Research and Development Budget Survey is compiled annually from a comprehensive survey of Government Departments and Agencies. This year’s survey is still in the field and I expect its publication in Q4 this year.  The estimated public expenditure is €817m for 2020 and €905 for 2021.  Estimated figures for 2022 are not available.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (22 Jun 2021)

Simon Harris: Springboard+ 2021 was launched on 14th June 2021, providing 10,158 places on 294 courses. As a result of multi-annual funding of graduate conversion courses, this leads to a combined total of 13,128 places in 399 courses available in the 2021/22 academic year under Springboard+ 2021 and HCI Pillar 1. Attached is the average number of European credit transfer and accumulation system (ECTS)...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Early School Leavers (22 Jun 2021)

Simon Harris: The Youthreach programme is a national programme of education and training for early school leavers.   The Youthreach programme provides two years integrated education, training and work experience for unemployed early school leavers without any qualifications or vocational training, who are between 16 and 21 years of age. The programme offers participants the opportunity to...