Results 35,061-35,080 of 46,522 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1008, 1013 and 1029 together. In providing guidance for higher education providers to return to learning safely for the 2020/21 academic year, my Department published a three-pillar guidance framework, consistent with public health requirements. This included an adaptation framework to assist institutions to continuously adapt to meet the challenges posed by...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: English Language Training Organisations (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: My Department has no plans at present for the implementation of blended learning in the English language education sector. The Government’s Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021 Plan for Living with COVID-19 sets out the Framework for Restrictive Measures in Response to COVID-19 for adult education which includes English Language Education (ELE) as open with protective measures at...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: The Irish Research Council (IRC) is supporting 8 COVID-19 related research projects through its rapid response partnership with the Health Research Board (HRB). The 8 projects funded by the IRC are within the social and policy countermeasures strand, and were funded from the IRC’s existing budget. Details of these projects are attached. Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) redirected...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further Education and Training Colleges (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: I have provided the information requested by the Deputy in the attached document. The details provided are for the 2017/18 financial year, which represents the most recent audited position for all Universities, Technological Universities and Institutes of Technology. ">Breakdown

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: Under the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is available to eligible students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the terms and conditions of funding, including those relating to residency, means, nationality and previous academic attainment. The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for SUSI to determine. For...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Staff (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, under the current statutory framework, Universities such as the University of Limerick (UL) are independent and autonomous bodies and on that basis are responsible for the conduct of their own day-to-day operations. In that context, my Department understand UL initiated the report referred to by the Deputy and therefore its publication and any recommendations...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: Universities and Institutes of Technology are autonomous and determine their own procedures for admission. The CAO process applications for undergraduate, and some postgraduate, courses on their behalf. Decisions on admissions are made by the higher education institutions who then instruct the CAO to make offers to successful candidates. Therefore neither I nor my Department have a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ministerial Briefing (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: My Department provided a comprehensive briefing document to me on my appointmentas Minister. The briefing document provided to me will be published on theDepartment's website shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: Higher Education Institutions are autonomous bodies and are responsible for their own day-to-day management and operational affairs, including the management of academic affairs. They retain the right to determine their own policies and procedures. Deadlines and procedures for students to withdraw from chosen courses is a matter for individual institutions and my Department does not have a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Contracts (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science was established in July 2020. There is a nil return for 2019 and a complete record is not available in respect of 2020 as the full report of the award of contracts on a non-competitive basis will be compiled after the end of the accounting period.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: COVID-19 has, as elsewhere, caused major disruption to all activities at our higher education institutions (HEIs). This includes their research activities because laboratories have been closed as part of wider campus closures and access to archives, engagement with focus groups, etc., have also been curtailed. Consequently, many researchers and research students whose contracts are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: The National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030 provides for substantial and appropriate restructuring, consolidation and co-operative approaches within the landscape of Irish higher education, including the development of technological universities. My Department, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and relevant higher education institutions are dedicating significant investment towards...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Budget 2021 (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1032 and 1034 together. The key drivers of capital investment in higher education include: - Catering for a significantly expanded student body as demographics feed through from post-primary level - Supporting the ambitions of Project Ireland 2040 with regard to a more balanced population and employment growth across Ireland’s regions - Developing and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Private Partnerships (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: To date, my Department has entered into three public private partnerships in the higher education sector, National Maritime College of Ireland, Cork School of Music and the Grangegorman PPP project. The National Maritime College of Ireland and Cork School of Music, which are part of Cork Institute of Technology, became operational in 2004 and 2007 respectively. The NMCI provides education and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Nursing Education (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: As requested by the Deputy I have attached a table outlining the total number of enrolments for undergraduate nursing and midwifery for the years 2016-2019 are attached below. The actual enrolment details for 2020 are not currently available at this time. ">Hons Degree

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teagasc Activities (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: Requests for funding for Teagasc students is a matter for the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development. I have been in contact with my colleague the Minister for Agriculture on this matter and I will refer your query to him for direct response.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: There have been two completed projects in the higher education sector with a total project cost of greater than €20m which have been part-funded by the Department of Higher and Further Education, Research, Innovation and Science (and previously the Department of Education and Skills) since 2016. There was one further project with a total project cost of just under €20m. I am...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Young Farmers Scheme (4 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: The Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are governed by the Universities Act 1997, the Institutes of Technologies Acts 1992 to 2006 and the Technological Universities Act 2018. Within the meaning of these Acts, HEIs are autonomous with regard to the management of their academic affairs and retain the right to determine their own policies and procedures in this area. Decisions on how courses...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (4 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: On 25th September intensified protective measures in third level were announced, in line with public health advice. On-site activity in further and higher education will be minimised so long as these measures are in place. Campuses will remain open to facilitate learners and researchers in accessing laboratories, practicals and apprenticeship training, scheduled library attendance and small...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Springboard Programme (4 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: Under the July Stimulus, funding was announced for short modular courses to be offered in a flexible manner, allowing people to gain important skills without taking a considerable period away from the labour market. Each module will be stand-alone so that participants can gain skills and put them into practice immediately in the workplace, but modules are also accredited in such a way as...