Results 35,141-35,160 of 46,522 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Contracts (19 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: My officials have been in contact with each of the agencies under the remit of my Department in regard to the Deputy’s query. I am advised that one body falls within the scope of your query.  The details in regard to that body are outlined in the supporting table. SOLAS Name of Third Party Contractor Number of staff employed by Third Party Provider¹ ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland (19 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: SUSI opened on 23rd April 2020 for applications for the 2020/21 academic year. Of the 100,231 applications received 94,431 (94%) have been completed. SUSI has awarded 75,945 applications to date, with a further 18,486 applications refused/cancelled. As of 16thNovember 2020, of the remaining 5,800 applications - 3,861 are with students and  SUSI is waiting for documentation to be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme (24 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: I wish to inform the Deputy that the appeal to which he refers was heard by the independent Student Grant Appeals Board on March 10th 2020. The Board communicated their decision directly via email to the student on March 11th 2020. Students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. This Fund assists...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further Education and Training Programmes (24 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: The information requested is available at the following link: ">BordNaMona

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (24 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 635 and 686 together. The National Student Accommodation Strategy (NSAS), published in 2017, was designed to support the delivery of an increased level of supply of purpose-built student accommodation, by reducing barriers for public and private sector developers of student accommodation, and by seeking to address financing barriers for higher education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Procurement Contracts (24 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: My Department maintains a record of all contracts, over the threshold value of €25,000, awarded without a competitive process during each year of account. Such awards and contract extensions, without engagement with the market are treated as non-compliant with procurement guidelines with the information compiled in line with the requirements set out in the Department of Finance...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (24 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: The matter referred to by the Deputy is the subject of listed High Court proceedings taken by the Office of Public Works. For legal reasons I am not, therefore, in a position to comment on the issues raised.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Institutions (24 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: I am greatly concerned by the issues of sexual harrassment and bullying that have emerged in respect of both staff and students within our higher education institutions. Our higher education institutions have a duty of care to their students and staff, and a responsibility to foster a campus culture that is clear in the condemnation of unwanted and unacceptable behaviours, which act as...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Access to Higher Education (24 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: The National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education (NAP) 2015-2021 identifies the target groups that are currently under-represented in higher education. These include entrants from socio-economic groups that have low participation in higher education including students with disabilities and Irish Travellers. The Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH) Fund is the funding...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Schemes (24 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: The number of persons who are either asylum applicants, subsidiary protection applicants, or leave to remain applicants who have availed of the Student Support Scheme for Asylum Seekers since its establishment in 2015 is outlined in the table below. Pilot Support Scheme 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21* ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Erasmus+ Programme (24 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: My Department has been very conscious of the impact of the UK withdrawal from the EU on the education sector and and has been preparing for the impact for some time. The final outcome of the EU-UK negotiations will determine whether the UK will continue to have access to the Erasmus+ programme beyond the current period. I certainly hope that an agreement on this aspect can be found as it...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Legislative Process (24 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science was established in July 2020. Since the establishment of the Department there have been no applications to waive pre legislative scrutiny of primary and secondary legislation. Information in respect of the period from 1 January 2017 to July 2020 has been referred to the Department of Education for their direct...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (24 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: I will be making an assignment of a Data Protection Officer in my Department shortly. The role is currently covered by a Principal Officer based in the Department of Education who acts also as the Data Protection Officer for that Department.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (24 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: It is important to note in relation to this issue that applications to undertake study at postgraduatelevel are made directly to individual higher education institutions. Higher education institutions are autonomous institutions as provided for in legislation and on that basis, the criteria governing the level of tuition fees to be charged in the case of postgraduate study is solely a matter...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland (24 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for SUSI to determine. In assessing an application for the 2020/21 academic year, SUSI will have regard to the following qualifying criteria for the special rate of maintenance grant: 1. The student must qualify for the standard rate of grant; 2. Total reckonable income, after income disregards and Child Dependant Increase(s) are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Institutions (24 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: The Higher Education Authority (HEA) is an aegis body of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science established under statute by the Higher Education Authority Act, 1971 and provision relating to its governance are set out in the Act. The Act also sets out the functions of the HEA including its function as the statutory funding authority for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Tribunals of Inquiry (24 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: There are no tribunals, enquires or investigations being undertaken currently or in the process of being set up by this Department. There are none in which terms of reference are not complete or agreed and no costs arise in this regard.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Data (24 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 653 and 672 together. A list of higher education courses in NUIG and GMIT in the fields specified by the Deputy is attached. Further education courses can be searched by location and field on and a searchable register of all qualifications recognised under the national framework of qualifications (NFQ) can be found at . My Department does not have a role in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (24 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: The establishment of technological universities (TUs) is an important part of the Government’s higher education policy as underscored by the Programme for Government 2020. Under the statutory framework detailed in the Technological Universities Act 2018, it is a matter, in the first instance, for the relevant Institutes of Technology participating in a technological university...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (24 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: The Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) was introduced as part of a series of reforms to the student immigration system for international education in line with the Government decision of 19 May 2015. These reforms have been designed to: - tackle abuse of the immigration regime, - tackle abuse of the labour market, - improve the overall quality of offering to international students,...