Results 38,341-38,360 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (14 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I am very aware of the pressure felt by students applying to enter higher education and I am taking action to relieve these pressures. While Leaving Certificate grades don’t impact the number of higher education places in and of themselves, high grades drive up CAO points requirements and I know that this can make students feel under pressure. This year’s CAO...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (14 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for his question on this important matter. 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 barriers to their safety and their active participation in college life. Significant progress has been made...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (14 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: Over the past two years, an additional €6 million has been provided to higher education institutions to support student mental health and wellbeing. HEIs were requested to allocate these additional funds towards student-facing services such as: - Recruitment of additional Student Counsellors; - Recruitment of additional Assistant Psychologists; - Head of service posts for those HEIs...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ukraine War (14 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I am determined that those fleeing the war will receive comprehensive and compassionate support to allow them to continue their education here and my officials have been working proactively with the higher education sector to facilitate this. I must acknowledge the generosity of those working in the sector, who are assisting my Department to identify and respond to the needs of displaced...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (14 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, officials of my Department have been engaged with higher education institutions in Northern Ireland to facilitate continue access participation in the Erasmus+ programme on the basis of their temporary registration at Irish higher education institutions. It was planned to put the scheme in place from September 2022, but my Department was advised by the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (14 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: The data below captures all of the completions of accommodation bed-spaces since the publication of the Rebuilding Ireland policy in 2016, as the Department does not possess data for completions dating from 2014. Year Due for Completion Public Private Grand Total 2016 650 500 1,150 2017 ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (14 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: The student accommodation beds referred to were developed by UCD. The Department does not hold costing information on them. Queries in this vein should be addressed to the institutions in question.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (14 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: The number of full time PhD students by higher education institutions for the last three academic years for which there is data available is attached. The most recent year available is data for the 2020/2021 academic year. While my Department produces projections of overall full-time enrolments in higher education, it does not produce projections for the number of PhD students.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (14 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: Impact 2030, Ireland’s Research and Innovation Strategyprioritises the nurturing and development of talent and excellence to build on Ireland’s reputation as an Island of Talent and a location for research excellence and impact. We recognise that the quality of our researchers is fundamental to the quality of our research system and its collaboration with partners in industry...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: EU Programmes (15 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: The Erasmus Plus programme is to support, through lifelong learning, the educational, professional and personal development of people in education, training, youth and sport in Europe and beyond, thereby contributing to sustainable growth, quality jobs and social cohesion, to driving innovation and to strengthening European identity and active citizenship. Centres, both privately and publicly...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (15 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: Apprenticeship is a demand driven, employer-led offering based on a contract of employment between the apprentice and their respective employer. Therefor the number of apprentices in any specific sector is determined directly by employer provision. In 2021, a record 8,607 new apprentices were registered in the apprenticeship system. This is an increase of over 38% in comparison to 2020. 6,955...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Correspondence (15 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: The Deputy will be aware that the Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) scheme is a reduced points mechanisms for entry into higher education. The scheme is managed and operated by the Irish Universities Association (IUA) on behalf of the higher education institutions who are autonomous bodies. Admissions under the scheme are regulated by the higher education institutions...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions (15 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: The information requested by the Deputy is contained in the following table. Trinity College Dublin Full Time New Entrant Undergraduate Student Numbers Academic Years Ireland Northern Ireland Great Britain (Other) EU Non-EU Total 2020/2021 2,904 61 51 79 378 ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (15 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: Significant progress is being made in realising the ambition for apprenticeship set out in the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 published in April last year.  The further development and mainstreaming of apprenticeship in Ireland through the creation of a single unified apprenticeship system has a key role to play in meeting Ireland's skill needs in a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (15 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 171, 172 and 173 together. At the end of last year, the apprentice population was 24,212 and there were approximately 255 apprentices registered with public service employers such as the Civil Service, the Defence forces and Local Authorities. These apprentices were registered across over 20 different apprenticeship programmes in areas as diverse as...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Schemes (15 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: The Student Assistance Fund (SAF) provides financial assistance to students experiencing financial difficulties while attending higher education.  Students can be assisted towards costs such as rent, childcare, transport and costs associated with the provision of books/class materials.  Students who are non-EU, including UK nationals, but who are eligible for free or reduced fees in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Schemes (15 Jun 2022)

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 commitment in the Programme for Government, from September 2021 the postgraduate fee contribution grant increased from €2,000 to €3,500, and the fee grant income threshold increased from €31,500...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Bodies (15 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 176 and 177 together. The Student Grant Appeals Board (the Board) was established under Section 25 of the Student Support Act 2011 and under Section 21(4)(a) is independent in the performance of its functions.Appointments to the Board are in compliance with The Public Appointments Service (PAS) process. Under Section 25 (4) of the Student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (15 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: Officials in my Department are liaising with the Higher Education Authority (HEA) to confirm the position and the details will be communicated to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (15 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: Officials in my Department are liaising with the Higher Education Authority (HEA) to confirm the position and the details will be communicated to the Deputy as soon as possible.