Results 40,161-40,180 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (2 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: In line with commitments in the National Economic Recovery Plan, my Department has undertaken the OECD’s Ireland Skills Strategy Review that is on track to be completed in 2023. The review focuses on an examination of National Skills Strategy and Ireland’s skills approaches in order to ensure that we have a solid foundation on which to build our competitiveness and support...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research and Development (2 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: The Research and Development Budget Survey 2021–2022 is currently being finalised by members of my staff and will be published on the departmental website shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (2 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: In line with commitments in the National Economic Recovery Plan, my Department has undertaken the OECD’s Ireland Skills Strategy Review that is on track to be completed in 2023. The review focuses on an examination of National Skills Strategy and Ireland’s skills approaches in order to ensure that we have a solid foundation on which to build our competitiveness and support...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (2 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: An application for the person referred to by the Deputy was received by the Undocumented Unit of my Department on 05 May 2022 and continues to be processed. Due to the large number of applications on hand it is not possible to provide a definitive timeframe for a decision to issue. The processing times of applications will vary depending on the complexity of the application, whether it is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (2 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department, with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation. It will be submitted to me for decision in due course. The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (2 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy is aware, the 1983 Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons provides the current mechanism through which a person may seek a transfer of their prison sentence between Ireland and the UK. The legislative basis for these transfers is the Transfer of Sentenced Persons Act 1995 (as amended). I am advised by officials in the Irish Prison Service, who are the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Data Protection (2 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: The Programme for Government commits to ‘recognise the domestic and international importance of data protection in Ireland’ and states that the Government ‘will ensure that Ireland delivers on its responsibilities under the General Data Protection Regulation’. The Government is very conscious of the commitment to deliver effective data protection regulation and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (2 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: There is no citizenship application awaiting processing by my Department for the person referred to by the Deputy. The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, and all applications are processed in line with the eligibility criteria as set out under the Act. Each application is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (2 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: The Citizenship Division of my Department wrote to the applicant referred to by the Deputy on the 30 January 2023 setting out the current status of the application and requested documentary evidence in relation to matters outstanding.  Upon receipt of this documentation processing of the application will recommence, with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (2 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: An application by the person concerned for the Regularisation of Long Term Undocumented Migrants scheme was received by the Undocumented Unit of my Department on 04 March 2022 and continues to be processed. Due to the large number of applications on hand it is not possible to provide a definitive timeframe for a decision to issue. The processing times of applications will vary depending...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (2 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: The person referred to by the Deputy is registered on a Stamp 3 immigration permission until 13 November 2023. It is open to the person concerned to apply for a change of immigration status if they meet the criteria for doing so. Further information on the criteria for changing immigration permission, including instructions on how to change permission are available on the Immigration...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (2 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: The person referred to by the Deputy has no valid immigration permission to remain in the State, as their previous immigration permission expired over 6 years ago.  It is important that persons keep their immigration permission up to date if they wish to continue to reside in the State. Where a person remains resident in the State without an immigration permission, I encourage them to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (7 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: The once-off reduction of €1,000 in the student contribution only applies to students who are eligible for free fees.As outlined in my response of 25 January, a key principle of the design of the free fees initiative is to encourage progression, that is, to support students in progressing through a chosen course of study from year to year. As a result, students are not typically...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (7 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: Currently there are no undergraduate programmes in Irish Universities leading to a qualification specifically to become a special needs assistant (SNA). Existing programmes to become trained as a SNA are typically at level 5 and 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) and are conducted in the further education and training sector. The educational requirements to become a SNA are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (7 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: My officials have made enquiries with both Kerry Education and Training Board (KETB) and SOLAS regarding this matter. I can confirm that KETB has received approval to prepare a Preliminary Business Case for appraisal via the Public Spending Code to develop a College of the Future in Killarney. The associated Strategic Assessment Report, which led to this approval did not make reference to a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (7 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 489 and 490 together. I am conscious of the cost of living challenges facing students and the need for the progressive implementation of measures to address cost as a barrier to education. As part of the 2022 cost of living response in the Budget, I prioritised the introduction of a significant package of measures to directly support students and their...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Policies (7 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: One of the values in my Department’s Statement of Strategy (SoS) is to treat our colleagues and those to whom we provide services equitably, in keeping with our Public Sector Human Rights and Equality obligations. The SoS advocates for equality and respect for all and seeks to ensure a safe, respectful, inclusive and collaborative working environment for all staff. I have been advised...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (7 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy may be aware, the Expressions of Interest is an independent process managed by the Higher Education Authority. As such, it is not appropriate for me to comment. I am satisfied that as with all HEA processes, this process is being conducted to the highest standards and will be externally validated. This includes the expert advisory panel. I understand from the HEA that the panel...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Pensions (7 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: I am firmly of the view that there should be universal access to public service pensions in all higher education institutions across the sector. As such, my Department has been engaging positively with management bodies, the Department for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform and the Department of Education on a business case to support access to the single...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (7 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: The growth of the renewable energy sector is critical to meeting our Climate Action targets. The Government is committed to ensuring that the education and training system is appropriately positioned to support the growth and development of the skills required by this sector into the future. In this context, my Department is participating on a cross-Departmental Offshore Wind Energy...