Results 35,381-35,400 of 46,522 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: The development of a sustainable funding model for higher education is essential in light of the centrality of higher education to our progress as a country. The future development of Ireland as an inclusive society and a knowledge economy, against the backdrop of rapid technological change will be critically dependant on the quality of our graduates. In that context, a comprehensive...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: As part of a comprehensive customer service and communications strategy provided by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), to ensure that all necessary avenues are open to applicants to receive the information they need, a dedicated email and phone line service is provided by SUSI for Oireachtas members. This was established to meet an identified need for applicants who choose to engage...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: In considering this issue, it is important to note that the State currently provides very substantial financial support to undergraduate students in higher education towards the cost of their studies. This support has played a very significant role in facilitating access to and growth in higher education. What was previously the preserve of a relatively small proportion of the school leaving...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: The support and wellbeing of our students is a priority for my Department, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the increased stress and pressure resulting from it. While Ireland was on Level 5 of the Plan for Living with COVID all further and higher education institutions delivered the majority of their classes online with only essential activities held on site. While I...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: The fee payable by a student can vary depending on a variety factors including the type of course and the student's access route including previous education. Entry to medicine in Irish HEIs is provided through both undergraduate and graduate entry routes. Under the Department's Free Fees Initiative, the Exchequer pays tuition fees on behalf of eligible first time undergraduate students...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: The Student Grant Scheme, administered by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), provides grant assistance to students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. Approved courses for the Student Grant Scheme 2020 are prescribed in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Seirbhísí trí Ghaeilge (16 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: Tógfaidh mé ceist uimhir a 252, uimhir a 253 agus uimhir a 254 le chéile. Cé gur bunaíodh an Roinn Breisoideachais agus Ardoideachais, Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Eolaíochta an samhradh seo caite, ní bheidh feidhmeanna agus soláthar foirne na Roinne nua aistrithe go hiomlán ón Roinn Fiontar, Trádála agus Fostaíochta...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland (16 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: In recognition of the challenges facing full time third level students the Government has approved once off funding of €50m to provide additional financial assistance in this academic year.  The funding was provided in Budget 2021, in recognition of the exceptional situation they have experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Financial assistance will be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Budgets (16 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: My Department engages in social media, where appropriate, in order to draw attention to important issues in the Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science sector. The use of social media allows the Department to reach audiences that might not be as likely to see or hear traditional forms of media such as newspapers, television and radio, for example.  This allows...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Institutions (16 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: Entry to medicine in Irish HEIs is provided through both undergraduate and graduate entry routes. HEI are autonomous bodies and admissions to graduate medical programmes courses a matter for the institutions concerned. Although students are liable to pay a tuition fee for a place on graduate entry medicine programmes, the State via the HEA provides a grant per student to HEIs (€11,200...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Institutions (16 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: The statistics the Deputy refers to comes from data recently published by the HEA on the socio-economic profile of higher education institutions. This is the second year that we have this data and builds on a report the HEA published last year. The data is of significant benefit for higher education institutions in terms of supporting them to implement a more targeted approach in their access...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Institutions (16 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: The payment of student nurses and midwives is a matter for the Department of Health. As you know, student nurses and midwives were paid as healthcare assistants in the earlier part of the pandemic while clinical placements were suspended. An initial assessment of student placements for nurses and midwives has been conducted. The Minister for Health has also stated that a short, time-limited...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (17 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are autonomous within the meaning of the Universities Act 1997, the Institutions of Technology Acts 1992 to 2006 and the Technological Universities Act 2018. While it is not within my remit to determine the assessment policies of HEIs, I appreciate that the circumstances of this year have been both challenging and stressful to students, the HEI's are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Institutions (17 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: University College Dublin is an autonomous institution within the meaning of the Universities Act 1997 and is therefore academically independent and entitled to regulate its own academic affairs, including in relation to its assessment processes and policies. It is not within my remit to intervene in such matters and I have not spoken to the UCD governing authorities on this matter. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (17 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: Higher Education Institutions are autonomous institutions within the meaning of the Universities Act 1997, the Institutions of Technology Acts 1992 to 2006 and the Technological Universities Act 2018. Under this legislation, the institutions are academically independent and are entitled to regulate their academic affairs and administrative processes, including in relation to fees charged for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Staff (17 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: In the event a civil or public servant retires and goes on pension and subsequently takes a position with a Government Department or organisation covered by a Civil Service Pension Scheme, s/he may not earn more by way of their re-employed salary and pension than s/he was earning prior to their retirement. When the salary and pension exceed the salary prior to retirement the excess is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Nursing Education (17 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: The payment of student nurses and midwives is a matter for the Department of Health. Student nurses and midwives were paid as healthcare assistants in the earlier part of the pandemic while clinical placements were suspended. An initial assessment of student placementsfor nurses and midwives has been conducted. The Minister for Health has also stated that a short, time-limited examination...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (13 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: In recognition of the challenges facing full time third level students the Government has approved once off funding of €50m to provide additional financial assistance in this academic year. The funding was provided in Budget 2021, in recognition of the exceptional situation they have experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Financial assistance will be provided to all EU full-time...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Third Level Admissions (13 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: It is my understanding that those who opted to sit the Leaving Certificate exams in November 2020 and receive an improved CAO offer on foot of these results will receive a deferred offer to start their course in the 2021/22 academic year. Such offers are part of the 2020 application cycle, and therefore will be based on the 2020 CAO points. The CAO process applications for undergraduate,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Third Level Admissions (13 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 640 and 667 together. The CAO process applications for undergraduate, and some postgraduate, courses behalf of the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) Decisions on admissions, including deadlines for submissions of applications, are made by the HEIs who then instruct the CAO in this matter. The DARE scheme is operated by the Irish Universities Association...