Results 35,601-35,620 of 46,522 for speaker:Simon Harris

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Expansion of the Technological Universities: Discussion (23 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: I am happy to do so.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Expansion of the Technological Universities: Discussion (23 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Crowe. He is entirely correct that Ennis is going to become a university town and that the opportunities this will provide for the region are very significant. To update the Deputy, Limerick Institute of Technology and Athlone Institute of Technology submitted their application in November. We appointed the independent international panel in December. The panel conducted...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Expansion of the Technological Universities: Discussion (23 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: I will not tell the Deputy's wife.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Expansion of the Technological Universities: Discussion (23 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: I have yet to have a Gaeltacht experience myself but I know how hugely beneficial it has been for so many people and we need to continue to promote it. We are talking about people who require it as part of their qualification and studies. I have received much correspondence on this matter and I have sought advice from my officials. Somewhat surprisingly, I am told that it remains a matter...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Expansion of the Technological Universities: Discussion (23 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: I thank the Chairman and echo his thanks to the presidents, chairs and members of the governing authority, as well as all the staff of Waterford IT and IT Carlow. While we are moving to a new landscape in the south east, that does not in any way take away from the incredible work both institutions have done. In many ways we are trying to build on that success for the new model. I am taken...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Expansion of the Technological Universities: Discussion (23 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: I should have acknowledged earlier that the Minister of State, being from the mid-west, has taken a very keen interest in AIT and LIT. It is great to have that local knowledge of the region in our Department. I thank Senator Byrne for his comment on the hospitality sector. We will collaborate very closely with this sector which has been so badly hit. I could not agree with him more on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Health Professions Admission Test (24 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: The HPAT is independently administered by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) on behalf of the universities’ medical schools and RCSI. The selection criteria and process for admission to medical schools is a matter for those institutions in line with their statutory autonomy in relation to academic affairs. Neither I nor my Department have a role in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Offices (24 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: I wish to inform the Deputy that in line with Government policy my department has facilities available to enable breastfeeding breaks for staff in accordance with Circular 31/2006.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (24 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 651, 653 and 668 to 670, inclusive, together. I anticipate receiving an application from the TUSEI consortium, comprising WIT and IT Carlow, by 28 April 2021. A project plan has been in place by the consortium since October 2020 and my Department is being kept updated on its progress. To date €8.8 million has been provided in co-funding of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (24 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: It is a priority for my Department to support higher education institutions in their critical role as drivers of social and economic development in their regions. Within this overall context, the creation of Technological Universities represents a radical reconfiguration of the higher education landscape, which will deliver significant benefits for regional development. This will be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (24 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: The enrolment data for Institute of Technology Carlow and Waterford Institute of Technology for the 3 most recent academic years is outlined in the attached table. The information for the academic year 2020/21 will be available later this year.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (24 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: Project Ireland 2040 signals an envelope of €2.2 billion for investment in higher education infrastructure over the period 2018-2027. This is in addition to infrastructure to be delivered by way of Public Private Partnership (PPP), including the Central and East Quads for TU Dublin at Grangegorman and the Higher Education PPP programme which is focused on Technological...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (24 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: A joint application under Section 29 of the Technological Universities Act 2019 has not been received to date from the Institutes of Technology comprising the Connacht Ulster Alliance TU development consortium. The Department understands that significant progress has been made in relation to the finalisation of an application, including intensive discussions with staff and students of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (24 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: In recognition of the challenges facing full time third level students, financial assistance will be provided in academic year 2020/21 to all students who avail of SUSI grants and to all EU full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students attending publicly funded Higher Education Institutions in the state. The scheme will ensure students: - Who avail of the SUSI grant will receive...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (24 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: In recognition of the challenges facing full time third level students, financial assistance will be provided in academic year 2020/21 to all students who avail of SUSI grants and to all EU full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students attending publicly funded Higher Education Institutions in the state. The scheme will ensure students; - Who avail of the SUSI grant will receive...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions (24 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: The CAO process applications for undergraduate, and some postgraduate, courses on behalf of the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Decisions on admissions, including deadlines for receipt of school leaving exam results, are made by the HEIs who then instruct the CAO in this matter. My officials are meeting regularly with representatives from the further and higher education sectors to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Examinations (24 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 660 and 662 together. Dundalk Institute of Technology is an autonomous higher education institution in relation to academic issues. I was glad to be able to engage with students on this matter and I am pleased that my Department understands that following recent discussions between staff and management at the Institute, on 16 February the Teachers’...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (24 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will appreciate, while the operation of support measures for third level students is a function of this Department, tax matters are a function of the Revenue Commissioners. The scheme ensures students: - Who avail of the Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) grant, including students studying abroad, will receive €250 top-up in their grant; The €250...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ministerial Advisers (24 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: The information requested is in the table. NAME TITLE ADDRESS Joanne Lonergan Special Adviser Department of Further & Higher Education, Research Innovation & Science, Marlborough Street, Dublin 1. D01 RC96. Telephone: 01 8896400 Sarah Bardon Special Adviser Department of Further &...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (24 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: The requested information is set out in the table. Please note that full details of civil service salary scales are available at .