Results 41,921-41,940 of 46,723 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Costs (26 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: In considering the matters raised it is important to note that the total level of fees charged to Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) students is a matter for the higher education institutions (HEIs), consistent with the principle of their institutional autonomy.The State contribution under reference is a funding subsidy provided, via the HEA, to HEIs towards the cost of provision for EU student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (26 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: The DARE scheme is operated by the Irish Universities Association, on behalf of the higher education institutions which set out the policy criteria for the scheme. Each institution determines its own admissions policy, the number of places to be reserved, the allocation of those places, and the review and appeals processes. Applications to the scheme are submitted to the Central...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (26 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: General expansion of apprenticeship as a route to career development is a key priority for Government. The Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025sets out new ways of structuring, funding and promoting apprenticeships to make them more accessible to achieve a target of 10,000 annual registrations by 2025. We are making significant progress in realising the ambition of the Plan. A key...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (26 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: Section 28 of the Technological Universities Act, 2018 sets out the eligibility criteria applicant institutes must meet to be granted Technological University status. There are a mix of requirements and demonstrable capabilities in relation to staff qualifications with regard to both masters or doctoral degrees, or to relevant staff having sufficient practical experience gained in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (26 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: TU Dublin is an autonomous Higher Education Institution (HEI) within the meaning of the Technological Universities Act 2018. Under this legislation technological universities (TUs) are academically independent and entitled to regulate their own academic affairs and administrative processes including the number and type of programmes offered. It is to be expected the HEIs would periodically...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (26 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: The Deputy will be aware that one of the key objectives of SALI is to strengthen gender diversity at the senior leadership level within Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and to encourage the benefits that such diversity can deliver. Championing equality and diversity is one of the key goals of my department. The Senior Academic Leadership Initiative (SALI) is an important initiative aimed...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (26 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: My department does not have a policy on the use of the term professor, but individual universities, as autonomous institutions, have developed and adopted their own policies in relation to academic titles. These are intended to ensure that such titles are meaningful to both an internal and external audience and accurately reflect the academic standing of an individual. As the Deputy will...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (26 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 618 and 619 together. The Deputy's office has clarified that the questions relate to Further and Higher Education. Inclusion is one of the core strategic goals for the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. A key ambition is to ensure that supports and opportunities are provided for learning to all. I want the tertiary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Regulatory and Poverty Impact Assessments (26 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: The number of Bills prepared by my Department in the 33rd Dáil to date; the number and title of those Bills that included a Regulatory Impact Assessment, and the titles of the RIAs published by my Department can be found in the table below: Bill Number Bill Title Regulatory Impact Assessment Title No 1 of 2022 Higher...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (28 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: Technological Universities have been established to create a step-change in the delivery of higher-level skills, new knowledge creation, venture start-ups and collaborative innovation support for enterprise; and hence to meaningfully expand the higher education sector’s contribution to regional development. To support the post-establishment development of TUs, the Higher Education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (28 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: An appropriate senior management team structure is a critical enabler to support Technological Universities deliver on their legislatively prescribed mandate. The Higher Education Authority and my Department commissioned the OECD to conduct a review of academic career paths, contracts, and organisation design in TUs. I brought this report to Cabinet in December 2022, and it was subsequently...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (28 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: In November 2022, I received Government approval of €1 million to support our Technological Universities (TUs) in the development of a feasibility study to ascertain student accommodation needs on a local, regional and national level. This study will include data analysis and engagement with local authorities and other key stakeholders to determine the level and potential sources of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (28 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: The Government and my Department is committed to reducing the cost of college for students and their families and a number of measures were introduced in Budget 2023 benefiting thousands of students. In advance of Budget 2024 this autumn, and as I did last year, I published an options paper on 21st August 2023 which sets out for the Government's consideration, various options to the cost...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (3 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: The National Training Fund (NTF) is a dedicated fund established under the National Training Fund Act, 2000 resourced by the Training Levy paid by employers to raise the skills of those in employment; provide training to those who wish to acquire skills to take up employment and provide information in relation to skills requirements in the economy. The Deputy may wish to know Minister Coveney...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (3 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: The Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 sets out new ways of structuring, funding, and promoting apprenticeships to make them more accessible to achieve a target of 10,000 annual registrations by 2025. 2022 saw 8,286 new apprenticeship registrations an increase of 34% on the pre-Covid figure in 2019. There are a total 4711 registrations to date in 2023, of which 3783 are craft and 928...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (3 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: The student grant scheme, administered by SUSI, provides maintenance grants to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. Student maintenance grants are payable at either the adjacent or non-adjacent rate. The adjacent rate of maintenance grant is payable in the case of students whose...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Schemes (3 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: The prioritisation of the skills industry needs and those our citizens seek is a key focus for my Department. Our responsiveness to the requirements of enterprise is couched in key policy initiatives such as the Action Plan for Apprenticeship, Green Skills for FET Roadmap, National Digital Strategy, Harnessing Digital, the Human Capital Initiative and Springboard +, the establishment of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (3 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: In November 2022, I received Government approval of €1 million to support our Technological Universities (TUs) in the development of a feasibility study to ascertain student accommodation needs on a local, regional and national level. This study will include data analysis and engagement with local authorities and other key stakeholders to determine the level and potential sources of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Schemes (3 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: The HEAR scheme is owned and operated by participating Higher Education Institutions and as it is an Independent process, my Department has no role in the administration of the scheme or the appeals process. However, I can advise the Deputy that the review and appeals process is in place to make sure that all HEAR applicants are treated fairly and that the assessment procedures have been...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Data Protection (3 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: Please see below in tabular form the number of data breaches that occurred in my Department since its formation in 2020 and to date in 2023, and the numbers which were reported to the Data Protection Commission (DPC). In line with DPC guidance, the remainder were deemed not to meet the threshold that would require reporting to the DPC due to the nature of the particular risk they represented...