Results 35,781-35,800 of 46,522 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Policy Functions (25 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: Progressing disability services, and ensuring that people with disabilities can participate in further and higher education, is an important priority of my Department. In terms of access to higher education, the National Access Plan (NAP) has set targets to increase participation in higher education by people with disabilities. Specific targets have been set to increase participation in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (25 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: Project Ireland 2040 signals Exchequer investment of €2.2 billion in Ireland's higher education infrastructure over the period to 2027. There are a number of ongoing higher education investment programmes including: - Higher Education Strategic Infrastructure Fund, which is co-funding five projects, four in the university sector and one in an IoT. The Fund has a focus on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Oideachas trí Ghaeilge (25 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: Is doiciméad ardleibhéil é an Ráiteas Straitéise ina leagtar béim ar spriocanna straitéiseacha don Roinn Breisoideachais agus Ardoideachais, Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Eolaíochta. I gcomhréir leis an gcur chuige seo, ní thagraítear go sonrach do mhórchuid de ghníomhaíochtaí agus de thosaíochtaí na...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (31 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: The information requested by the Deputy is available in the attached table. This data comes from the HEA's Student Records System (SRS) and runs from the 2014/2015 academic year to the 2019/2020 academic year, which is the latest available.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Erasmus+ Programme (31 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: While Erasmus+ (2021-2028) was approved in principle in December 2020, the formal EU regulatory processes have yet to be concluded. Notwithstanding this, the Higher Education Authority (HEA), which acts as the National Agency for the Erasmus+ Higher Education programme, is expecting to announce a call for applications to all participating Higher Education Institutions shortly. In...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Straitéisí Ranna (31 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: Táim chun Ceisteanna Uimh. 742 agus 743 athógáil le chéile. Is doiciméad ardleibhéil é an Ráiteas Straitéise ina leagtar béim ar spriocanna straitéiseacha don Roinn Breisoideachais agus Ardoideachais, Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Eolaíochta. I gcomhréir leis an gcur chuige seo, ní thagraítear go sonrach do...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Legal Cases (31 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: The Minister is not aware of any threatened or extant litigation arising from the inclusion of social clauses in public procurement contracts in each of the years from 2017 to 2020.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Reform (31 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: Preparatory work is on-going between my Department and the Higher Education Authority on the next National Access Plan (2022 -2026). A consultation phase has commenced, and a public call for submissions will be announced shortly. The aim to have a new plan published by the end of 2021.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Institutions (31 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: In 2020 the HEA commissioned a study on the issues and challenges associated with first-time mature student participation in higher education and to make recommendations that will support increased participation from this group. Following a competitive tender process, Indecon Economic Consultants were appointed to carry out a study which included a comprehensive stakeholder consultation...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Quality and Qualifications Ireland (31 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take question Nos. 750 and 753 together. The Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Act 2019 was signed into law on 23rd July 2019. While many of the provisions of the Act have been commenced, a number of Sections have yet to be. These are Sections 9, 14, 23, 25 to 33, and 38. A considerable amount of preparatory work is required to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Support Schemes (31 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: Under Articles 15(6) and (7) of the Student Grant Scheme 2020, a student must be moving from year to year within a course having successfully completed the previous year or be transferring from one course to another where the award for the subsequent course is of a higher level than the previous course. A grant will not be paid to a student for a repeat period of study on the same course, or...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ministerial Correspondence (31 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: The USI Education for All Campaign covers a wide range of issues including public financing of higher education and student accommodation on which I as Minister and my Department are actively engaging with USI and relevant stakeholders in higher education. Throughout the last number of months my Department has been engaging with sectoral representatives to address the challenges faced by...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Properties (31 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: The information requested by the Deputy is being sought and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Support Schemes (31 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: The main support available to assist postgraduate students with the cost of attending higher education is the Student Grant Scheme. In line with the Programme for Government commitment to address the gap in postgraduate grants, from September 2021 the postgraduate fee grant will increase from €2,000 to €3,500. This increase will allay some of the costs for postgraduate study and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: English Language Training Organisations (31 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: English language education (ELE) in Ireland is a broad and diverse sector with the vast majority of activity undertaken by private sector providers. I am aware of the important contribution made by this sector and of the challenges that are being encountered given the substantial impact that the Covid-19 outbreak has had on students, teachers and providers. As part of the response to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Mental Health Services (31 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: The support and wellbeing of our students is one of my priorities, particularly in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the increased stress and pressure resulting from it. In 2020, I secured a comprehensive package of financial supports for the Higher Education and Further Education and Training sector to mitigate against the direct financial impact of Covid-19. This package included funding...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Science Foundation Ireland (31 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: Science Foundation Ireland does not receive applications for PhD positions. The agency funds research grants, following international peer review, the budget for which often includes funding for PhD positions. SFI does not have sight of the number of applications made by candidates to Higher Education Institutions for PhD positions. SFI monitors the number of PhD students funded through SFI...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Communications (31 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: As my Department was established relatively recently, my officials are continuing to finalise arrangements for the operation of a variety of corporate and support functions, including though the progression of a shared service agreement with the Department of Education. The arrangements being put in place will ensure that a number of central corporate services, including for example resources...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Commencement of Legislation (31 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: There are currently no Acts falling under my Department which have been signed into law but have not yet commenced. However, under the Student Support Act 2011, sections 8(3) and 16(5) have not yet commenced.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research Funding (31 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 766 and 767 together. My Department has engaged with a range of stakeholders with respect to the promotion of all-island research collaboration between higher education institutions. This also includes engagement with the Shared-Island Unit of the Department of the Taoiseach. I have received a proposal from the Irish Humanities Alliance with respect...