Results 39,121-39,140 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (19 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: I am very happy to. I am relying on my memory on this because I do not have it in a brief in front of me but I have quite a bit of familiarity with it because I had a very good meeting recently with the delegation of veterinary education leaders from the mid-west. They came to see me in Leinster House. There is at least two higher education institutions that I am aware of and I am sure...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (26 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: Under the Free Fees Initiative, tuition fees are paid in respect of eligible full-time undergraduate students undertaking approved courses in eligible institutions. Free Fees funding has been extended to a limited number of courses in not-for-profit private institutions, where specific learning or skills needs have been identified. In Marino Institute of Education, Free Fees approved...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (19 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: The Senator has my full support on that. I think it is really important that we move on that. The working group with Professor Tom Collins is doing work on part-time students. I will talk to NCI. I will come back to the Senator on CERN. I will talk to the Department of Justice.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (19 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: I will come back formally to the committee on where we are at with CERN and the issue of the cost-benefit analysis.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (27 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: I wish to advise that under the Protocol for the disposal of state assets, the property referred to by the Deputy was listed for disposal on the State Property Register in September 2019 with no interest being indicated by the State sector in retaining the property in public ownership. On that basis, Grangegorman Development Agency (GDA) and TU Dublin have incorporated the disposal of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (27 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: I am happy to provide the Deputy with an update on what I consider a very important funding stream for my Department to develop and grow its supports for vulnerable learners, learners with disabilities, under-represented groups and the most marginalised. I have allocated funding for an additional 50 PATH 2 1916 Bursaries. The bursaries provide extra support to students from disadvantaged and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (27 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: In July 2022, I announced that an additional 50 1916 bursaries of €5000 per student would be made available for the most socio-economically disadvantaged students as identified in the National Access Plan including those with a disability, mature students, lone parents, and further education award holders. In addition, changes were introduced to the 2022/2023 PATH 2 1916 Bursary scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (27 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: The deputy will be aware that the fourth National Access Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education (NAP) (2022 – 2028) was launched in August. It identifies several priority groups that are currently under-represented in higher education, including Irish Travellers and the Roma community. The new NAP sets ambitious targets for Traveller participation in Higher Education and for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ukraine War (27 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: Firstly, I am aware of the student in question and my officials have engaged with the student since their return to Ireland. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, I have been unwavering in my support to the Irish students whose studies were interrupted, and arrangements have been put in place to continue with their education. As the deputy will be aware, dentistry education is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Consultations (27 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: The Programme for Government Our Shared Future includes a commitment to ensure that Ireland is a global leader in research and innovation across the arts, humanities, social sciences and STEM. Consequently, Impact 2030: Ireland's Research and Innovation Strategy, which I launched on the 18thof May, positions research and innovation at the heart of addressing Ireland's societal, economic and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Vacant Properties (27 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 261 and 262 together. Direct engagement with higher education institutions in respect of their estates is generally done through the Higher Education Authority (HEA) in terms of their estate management. My Department works closely, through the HEA, with HEIs on the issue of estates in the context of capital planning and investment programmes and student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (27 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: As part of Budget 2023, the Government has approved a once off State support of €1,000 towards the student contribution payable by students eligible for free tuition fees under my Department’s Free Fees schemes in academic year 22/23. Where students do not qualify for Free Fees funding they pay the appropriate fee as determined by each higher education institution. In this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (27 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: Under the Free Fees Initiative, tuition fees are paid in respect of eligible full-time undergraduate students undertaking approved courses in eligible institutions. Free Fees funding has been extended to a limited number of courses in not-for-profit private institutions, where specific learning or skills needs have been identified. In Marino Institute of Education, Free Fees approved...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Transport (27 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: I met with the Minister for Transport in September to discuss transport options for students across the third level sector, including issues relating to access to public transport. I am keen to continue engagement on this issue, given the critical role played by accessible and affordable public transport in facilitating access to tertiary education. The provision of public transport...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (27 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: The student referred to by the Deputy was awarded 50% student contribution by the awarding authority. A party to an appeal had declared employment would cease on 30 June 2022, so an additional letter was sent to the applicant on the same day as the award letter requesting Confirmation of Cessation of Employment from Revenue in order to review under a change of circumstances. As of 25th...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Staff (8 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: The Croke Park Agreement (CPA) hours are part of wider productivity measures introduced under the Public Service Agreements. With regard to categories of public servants to which they apply, in terms of schools, the CPA hours are 33 additional hours a year at post primary (36 hours at primary) worked by teachers. I understand that CPA hours may also apply to certain grades in Third Level...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (8 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 800 and 811 together. 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. For full time undergraduate students, under my Department’s free fees schemes, the Exchequer provides funding toward the tuition fee costs of eligible undergraduate...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (8 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: Entry to medicine in Irish HEIs is provided through both undergraduate and graduate entry routes. Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) is oneof the pathways to study medicine. Students pursuing graduate entry medicine (GEM) programmes do so as second degree courses and consequently are not eligible for free fees funding or for student grants. However, in order to widen access to GEM programmes and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (8 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 802 and 832 together. As part of Budget 2023, in recognition of the cost of living financial challenges facing full time third level students funded through my Department, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (8 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: The total level of fees charged to Graduate Entry Medicine students is a matter for the higher education institutions, consistent with the principle of their institutional autonomy.   Students pursuing Graduate Entry Medicine programmes do so as second degree courses and consequently are not eligible for free fees funding or for student grants. However, the State does provide...