Results 40,761-40,780 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: I can confirm to the Deputy that in the event that a member of staff in my Department is concerned about bullying at their place of work they are advised of the anti-bullying, harassment and sexual harassment policy for the Irish Civil Service, entitled "Dignity at Work", which is published by the Department of Public Expenditure NDP Delivery and Reform. Since the establishment of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: Since the establishment of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in August 2020 to date, no officials at my Department have been dismissed from duty.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: Apprentices are primarily employees and all of the 66 available apprenticeships are undertaken under a contract of employment. For the majority of apprenticeships, the rate of pay is agreed between the apprentice and the employer with the employer paying the apprentice during both on-the-job and off-the-job training elements of the apprenticeship. For the 25 craft apprenticeship...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capital Expenditure Programme (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: Capital exchequer funding for approved capital works projects comes from various sources, however there is no specific EU funding received for capital works in universities.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Addiction Services (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department has allocated €5 million to the Higher Education Authority for mental health and well-being services this year in Higher Education Institutes. As autonomous bodies, the internal disbursement of mental health and well-being funding, including the funding of student services, such as support for people dealing with gambling addiction, is a matter for each Institute so...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (18 Apr 2023)

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. SUSI grant funding is available for approved undergraduate courses in approved higher education institutions within...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pension Provisions (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: I am firmly of the view that there should be access to public service pensions for research staff in all higher education institutions across the sector. A business case has been prepared to support access to the single public service pension scheme for those researchers who are not currently able to join the scheme. This business case has been submitted to the Department of Public...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: The below table sets out the number of providers offering awards at Level 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) in Healthcare Support and in Health Service Skills alongside the number of learners who obtained these award in the years 2020, 2021 and 2022. Year No. of Providers Learners 2020 40 2,389 ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available. We are working on compiling a response and are discussing with SUSI and we will revert to the Deputy in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1834 and 1835 together. As part of the cost of living response in Budget 2023, I prioritised the introduction of a significant package of measures to directly support students and their families. These measures included, for the 2022/23 academic year, a once off reduction of €1,000 in the student contribution. I have been clear that I want to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Private Security Authority (19 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 83 together. I can advise the Deputy, that the Private Security Authority, an independent body under the aegis of my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for licensing and regulating the private security industry in Ireland. The Private Security Authority regulates both contractors and employees across a range of sectors in the security...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (19 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department is progressing a range of policy options to ensure that the courts have a suitably wide range of appropriate options for dealing with people who have committed minor offences. The Programme for Government contains a broad range of policies and proposals that represent a coherent approach to enhancing and sustaining a more just and safe society, with a specific commitment to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (19 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 85 and 86 together. I have sought the information requested by the Deputy from the Irish Prison Service, however, the information was not available in time. I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (19 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: I have sought the information requested by the Deputy from the Irish Prison Service, however, the information was not available in time. I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (19 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware all prisoners may make a complaint at any time and the Irish Prison Service treats all complaints with the utmost seriousness. Complaints received by the Irish Prison Service vary in nature and gravity. For example, some may relate to conditions of accommodation, quality of food or access to services while other complaints can be more serious such as...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (19 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 89 to 92, inclusive, together. As the Deputy will appreciate, judges are independent in the matter of sentencing, as in other matters concerning the exercise of judicial functions, subject only to the Constitution and the law. As a general rule, the court is required to impose a sentence which is proportionate not only to the crime but to the individual...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (19 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: I have been informed that the person referred to by the Deputy will receive their IRP card in the next 10 - 15 working days. If customers have an emergency, they can contact the Immigration Service Help immigrationsupport@justice.ie who will endeavour to assist them. Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (19 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: A request for further documentation was made to the person concerned on 23 September 2022 and was reissued on 10 April 2023. The documents have now been received and the processing of the application can resume 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Healthcare Infrastructure Provision (19 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: UCC submitted their Dental School project to the Higher Education Authority for consideration under the Higher Education Capacity Building process. This process was developed to identify opportunities in the Higher Education system to build capacity in Dentistry, Pharmacy, Medicine, Nursing, and Veterinary Medicine programmes. The HEA have recently submitted their recommendations to me. I...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Dental Services (19 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 182 to 184, inclusive, together. The matter of health workforce planning and ensuring an appropriate pipeline of qualified healthcare workers within Ireland, including all suitably qualified dental professionals, is a major priority for my Department. I have just recently received recommendations from the HEA in respect of the Expressions of Interest...