Results 41,941-41,960 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

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

Simon Harris: Awaiting reply from Department.

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

Simon Harris: A student attending a private college which is not listed in the Student Support Regulations 2023 would not be eligible for funding under the Student Grant Scheme 2023. However, it is open to higher education institutions that operate on a 'for profit' basis to use their own resources to provide financial supports to any of their students that they consider to be in particular need. I...

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

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 719 and 720 together. In November 2022, I appointed Dr Andrea Johnson and Mr David Cagney to undertake an independent National Review of State Supports for PhD Researchers. This reflects the objective, under the dedicated Talent Pillar of Impact 2030, Ireland’s national research and innovation strategy, for a consistent research student experience...

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

Simon Harris: I have recently approved the continuation of the Scheme referred to by the Deputy for the 2023/24 academic year. The Scheme has been finalised and is now open for applications. All information, including the application form, is available on the gov.ie website. The Scheme will continue to be administered by the awarding authority, Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) on behalf of the...

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

Simon Harris: For student grant purposes, students are categorised according to their circumstances either as students dependent on parents or a legal guardian, or as independent mature students. A student may be assessed as an independent student (i.e. assessed without reference to parental income and address) if he/she has attained the age of 23 on the 1st of January of the year of first entry to an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions (3 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: I recently have written to the Irish Universities Association regarding the matters raised by the Deputy. As she will appreciate, decisions regarding acceptance are a matter for each institution. For this reason, I welcome the establishment of an expert working group, under the auspices of Universities Ireland (chaired by Professor Pól Ó Dochairtaigh, Deputy President and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Correspondence (3 Oct 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. Approved undergraduate courses for the Student Grant Scheme are prescribed in the Student Support Regulations...

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

Simon Harris: The Higher Education Authority publishes data annually on the proportion of students who do not progress from first year to second year of higher education. This data is published by Higher Education Institution (HEI) but is not available by location within a HEI. In 2019/20 there was a sudden decrease in non-progression, with only 9% of new entrants not progressing to second year in...

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

Simon Harris: Awaiting reply from Department.

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

Simon Harris: The Higher Education Authority Act (2022) requires that institutions seek to promote the Irish language. The Department distributes recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for disbursement directly to the HEA's designated higher education institutions. The HEA distributes this funding as a block grant to the institutions. As autonomous institutions, each Higher Education...

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

Simon Harris: My Department and its officials do not presently use ChatGPT or any other form of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to generate official text and no such software is installed on my official's devices. My Department does not presently have a policy on the use of AI, however it will continue to monitor developments in relation to AI, in particular with regard to potential applications that may...

Seanad: Access to Third Level Places and Student Accommodation: Statements (4 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach agus leis na Seanadóirí. I thank the Members for the opportunity to be here with them today. I know the Seanad has raised a number of issues including student accommodation, access to third level and access to apprenticeships. I am very happy to discuss all of them today but I want to start by being very clear that this Government and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Proposed Legislation (4 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: A list of general schemes referred by my Department to an Oireachtas Committee for pre-legislative scrutiny, as requested by the Deputy, is shown below, from the time of this Department's establishment in July 2020 to date: Date referred to Oireachtas Committee Title Date published for public review 17th April 2023 General Scheme of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (4 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: In November 2022, I appointed Dr Andrea Johnson and Mr David Cagney to undertake an independent National Review of State Supports for PhD Researchers. This reflects the objective, under the dedicated Talent Pillar of Impact 2030, Ireland’s national research and innovation strategy, for a consistent research student experience across funders, institutions and research disciplines. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Electric Vehicles (5 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: The installation costs of electric vehicle charging points at Irish Universities are eligible for HEA funded expenditure under for example, the Devolved Capital Grant and through various Capital Investment Programmes. However, it is not possible to isolate these costs, particularly in the case of general building projects as many Universities would include them as part of the enabling...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (5 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware the State determines the rate of student contribution applicable to free fees eligible students. A flat rate reduction in the student contribution payable by free fees eligible students would require increased State funding, on a recurring basis, to compensate higher education institutions for the loss of income associated with FFI tuition fee places. During...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: Condemn Hamas. It is not that hard.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: He will not condemn Hamas.

Financial Resolutions 2023 - Financial Resolution No. 4: General (Resumed) (11 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: I am very pleased to have an opportunity to confirm details of the budget for the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for the coming year. Cost should never be a barrier when it comes to education. It should never be a barrier to someone reaching their full potential or pursuing their goals and getting to where they want to in life. What we are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Costs (10 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: SUSI has advised the student referred to by the Deputy, was awarded a Postgraduate Fee Contribution of €4,000 on the 6th June 2023 by the awarding authority. The applicant’s income was under the Special Rate threshold of €25,000. However, whilst the applicant’s father did not meet the required number of days. The Student Grant Appeals Board heard an appeal from...