Results 39,181-39,200 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (15 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: Conversion courses are open to graduates who have not taken an accredited programme in the discipline. The University of Limerick offers a 2-year professional qualification in Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech and language therapy, however there are additional entry requirements to these programmes, including undertaking of the HPAT or GAMSAT. These programmes are recognised by...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (23 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: The information requested by the Deputy is contained in the attached spreadsheet, for the last five academic years available. This information was sourced from the HEA Student Records System (SRS), with the exception of Maynooth University MSc Psychology conversion course, which was sourced directly from the University. This programme commenced in 2019/2020 academic year.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (23 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: The Student Assistance Fund (SAF) is a critical support which is allocated by my Department to higher education institutions (HEIs) through the Higher Education Authority. The fund has a dual focus, it is designed to support students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds with ongoing needs for financial support and also to provide emergency financial assistance for students. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Reviews (24 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: My Department commissioned the OECD to undertake a review examining Ireland’s National Skills Strategy, as well as our skills structures, policies and approaches. The project was launched in November 2021 by myself and Secretary General of OECD Mathias Cormann. There are four phases, scoping, assessment, recommendations and publication. The project is looking at four key areas -...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (24 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: In Budget 2023, I gave priority to introducing a significant package of measures that will see students and families directly benefit and will help them tackle the challenges posed by the increased cost of living. In 2022 these measures include: - Higher education students who are eligible for my Department's free fees schemes will benefit from a once off reduction in the student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (24 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: The deputy will be aware that when a National Learning Network student enters training, their disability allowance changes to a training allowance for the duration of the course. Following consultation with colleagues in the Department of Social Protection, eligible learners, including those attending the National Learning Network, will receive the once-off payment of €500 announced...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions (24 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: Random selection is the method chosen by the CAO to differentiate between candidates when the number of candidates with a given number of CAO points outnumber the places available on the course these candidates have applied for. It is based on a randomly generated number allocated to each candidate for each course they apply for. Where candidates are tied on points and random selection...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (24 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: The Memorandum of Understanding on the Education Principles for the Common Travel Area, which I signed in July of 2021, commits the Irish and UK Governments to maintain reciprocal rights of Irish and British citizens to access programmes in higher education institutions in each other's States on terms no less favourable that the citizens of that State.The question in respect of distance or...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (24 Nov 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, previous academic attainment and means. The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralised student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Official Travel (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: No officials from my Department or from bodies under the aegis of my Department travelled to the Sharm el-Sheikh Climate Change Conference.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Budget 2023 (22 Nov 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; and . - once-off reduction of up to 33% in the contribution fee for apprentices. These...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 500 and 510 together. The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the annual expenditure on apprentice accommodation allowances and travel allowance per year since 2011 and the total expenditure in each year since 2018 on accommodation allowance and meal allowance for apprentices in tabular form; and the average cost per apprentice per year, is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 501 and 502 together. No such analyses are currently being planned. A series of reforms to the student immigration system for international education (assets.gov.ie/25007/6794897b14064e08bae9a9068a849075.pdf) were implemented in 2015. The reforms were designed to drive real and lasting change in the sector and address abuse of the immigration regime and labour...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 503 and 504 together. Issues regarding overseas travel agencies have previously been brought to the attention of my Department. These agencies are privately owned and primarily operate in other jurisdictions arranging study and travel options for prospective International Higher Education (HE) and English language education (ELE) students to many countries...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: In October the Minister updated the Cabinet Committee on Housing and received support on initial plans for policy development for the provision of student accommodation. The Minister and his officials are actively progressing a new policy that bridges the challenging gap between the viability of delivering purpose-built student accommodation and subsequent rental affordability for students. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: The difficulties faced by students with regard to student accommodation are an issue of which my Department and I are actively pursuing, and their resolution is a high priority for my Department as a whole. In October the Minister updated the Cabinet Committee on Housing and received support on initial plans for policy development for the provision of student accommodation. The Minister...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 507, 508, 513 and 514 together. The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the number of apprentices employed by each State and semi-State body; the number of apprentices employed by each local authority; the number of apprentices that have been employed across the public sector in each of the years since 2011 and the number of apprentices...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 509 and 512 together. The number of registered apprentices on each programme, including craft apprentices, as per the end of October in tabular form is set out at the link. The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the number of craft apprentices who have been registered for over two or four years, in the cases of those registered on two-year...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (22 Nov 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. As per the end of October 4,937 apprentices were waiting over six...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: Apprenticeship is a demand driven educational and training programme which aims to develop the skills of an apprentice in order to meet the needs of industry and the labour market. The development of new apprenticeships is employer-led, with consortia comprising employer groups and educational providers coming together to identify a skills need and appropriate apprenticeship response in their...