Results 39,021-39,040 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Veterinary Services (18 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: Officials from my Department have been engaging extensively with the Higher Education Authority and the higher education sector to identify where additional places can and should be provided in the higher education system. The Higher Education Authority are currently developing a request for Expressions of Interest to issue to the sector targeted at specific areas including veterinary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Schemes (18 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 145, 595 and 597 together. The Taoiseach and I recently launched Innovate for Ireland, which is a new partnership between industry and the Government to recruit and retain research talent to Ireland. Innovate for Ireland should commence in 2023 and the initial phase will seek to attract up to 400 high calibre PhD students to undertake research in Ireland that...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (18 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: Both I and my officials have been engaged with Carlow College St Patrick's over the course of the last year and more. As the Deputy is aware the College is seeking to be integrated into the publicly funded higher education system in the South East, and would like to be incorporated into the new South East Technological University (SETU). SETU is an institution established under the TU Act...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (18 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: Munster Technological University (MTU) received approval in principle in December 2019 for exchequer funding in the amount of €18.75m for extensive upgrade and refurbishment of the 1974 Building at its Cork Campus. This funding represents a key investment for the Campus and will further boost the role played by MTU as a driver of economic development in the southern region. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (18 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: I remain firmly committed to supporting Cavan Institute as a hub for further education and training in Cavan town and the wider region. The Deputy will be aware that it was agreed that the Cavan Institute project, which was previously part of the Department of Education school building programme, would be advanced as part of the new Further Education and Training (FET) capital funding...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Schemes (18 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013, craft and general construction workers, persons undertaking on-site security work and persons or classes of persons as may be prescribed by the relevant Minister are required to hold a safety awareness registration card (Safe Pass card). Safe Pass training and assessment is delivered by SOLAS Approved Training...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Costs (18 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: As part of Budget 2023 I have secured a significant cost of living package for third level students. As part of the cost of living measures in Budget 2023, postgraduate Students who meet the eligibility criteria for a Postgraduate Fee Contribution Grant will receive a once-off increase of €1,000 in the grant, which is increasing from €3,500 to €4,500 and is due to be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Costs (18 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, progression, previous academic attainment and means. To satisfy the terms and conditions of the scheme in relation to progression, a student must be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Schemes (18 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: The student referred to by the Deputy submitted an appeal to the SUSI appeals officer on the 28th September 2022. The appeal was upheld. However, in the appeal the student stated that he changed from a Post Leaving Certificate Course to an Undergraduate course. As the total household reckonable income was calculated to be over the income threshold for PLC but under the maximum threshold for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Cybersecurity Policy (18 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: For operational and security reasons, it is not appropriate to disclose details, including any budgetary matters, of my Department’s Cyber Security arrangements, or those of State Agencies under my remit. Any disclosure of information in relation to cyber security matters could assist malicious actors in identifying potential vulnerabilities and potentially compromise my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Cybersecurity Policy (18 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: The proportion of my Department’s data held at present on commercial cloud is estimated at approximately 2%. The move to cloud computing has the potential to offer improvements in terms of improved security, reliability, increased access and a reduced carbon footprint amongst others. The amount of my Department’s data stored in the cloud has increased since 2019 and will...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Schemes (18 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: As part of Budget 2023 I have secured a significant cost of living package for third level students including a once-off €1,000 state financial support towards the undergraduate student contribution fee for higher education students eligible for my Department’s free fees schemes. For students in private colleges the reduction will apply where students are attending approved...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (18 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: The attached table contains the information requested by the Deputy. The salary scale for Special Adviser to a Minister is the same as the Civil Service Principal Officer pay scale, under the terms of the Guidelines for Ministerial Appointments to the 33rd Dáil. Mr. Simon Harris, T.D. Minister for Further & Higher Education Research, Innovation & Science Ms. Sarah Bardon;...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Agriculture Industry (18 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: The participation of under-represented groups, including women, in education, our workforce, and across industry, has been a core element of my policy objectives, and has featured prominently within this Government's programme of work. Specifically, to your question, the encouragement and support of women to pursue a career in farming has been reflected through my Department's policies across...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (18 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 591, 600 and 611 together. I am committed to engaging with and garnering the views of key stakeholders in the Higher Education Sector, in particular our agencies, the sector and the representative bodies for students and for staff. In my view, sectoral engagement will be the driver of reform in the sector for the good of all involved. For this reason, my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Standards (18 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: The information requested is not available. The Higher Education Authority (HEA) is responsible for collecting, analysing and disseminating student and graduate enrolment data from higher education institutions and the HEA does not collect data for PhD withdrawal rates.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Schemes (18 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: Under the Department's Free Fees Initiative (FFI), the Exchequer pays tuition fees on behalf of eligible first-time undergraduate students attending approved full-time undergraduate courses. In order to qualify for funding under the Department’s Free Fees Initiative, students must meet the criteria of the scheme and be attending an approved course. In the context of limited public...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (18 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: Apprenticeships are employer led demand driven educational and training programmes that aim to develop the skills of an apprentice in order to meet the needs of industry and the labour market. As apprentices are employees, the demand for and number of apprentices is primarily dictated by the employers in any area or sector. The Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 sets out new ways of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (18 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: The HEA has reported a total of 10,013 full time PhD students in 2021/2022, with 1,543 occasional and 1,738 students undertaking a Masters by Research. The most recent Higher Education Expenditure on Research and Development (HERD) Survey 2018/19 carried out by my Department, found that there were 10,044 research students (doctoral and masters by research) in 2018, of which 6,143 (61%)...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (18 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: In May 2022, the Government agreed a sustainable funding model for higher education. Following an extensive economic assessment undertaken through the European Commission's DG Reform programme, €307 million has been identified as the level of funding required to address the current underfunding in higher education. My policy position in this regard was articulated in Funding our...