Results 3,321-3,340 of 45,291 for speaker:Simon Harris

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

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 595 and 605 together. In May 2022, I launched Funding the Future, a landmark funding and reform framework for higher education. Funding the Future confirmed that a mixed funding model would be adopted to ensure the sustainable funding of higher education into the future. This comprises a mix of Exchequer investment, employer contributions through the...

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

Simon Harris: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine. 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 (ie: assessed...

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

Simon Harris: Ensuring a supply of qualified vets is an important issue for my Department. While my Department does not place a quota on the number of places on veterinary medicine courses, the reality is that there are constraints in current capacity. This reflects the fact that programmes involve significant practical and placement requirements, and facilities, including appropriate laboratory...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (10 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: The higher education tuition fee payable by a student can vary depending on a variety of factors including the type of course and the student's access route. The assessment of a student’s application and the determination of the appropriate fee rate is a function of the institution attended. Typically there are two rates of fee, an EU Rate of Fee or a non-EU/International rate of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions (10 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: It is my understanding that if a student receives an upgrade and the revised result places them higher on the order-of-merit list than the last person who actually got an offer, then the Higher Education Institution will usually instruct CAO to either offer them a place to begin immediately or offer them a place deferred to the next year. I have no role or remit in this regard. All...

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

Simon Harris: The Department uses various means to examine graduate mobility. Overall emigration rates are estimated by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) and reported in their migration estimates publications, published on the CSO website. In some cases these estimates are available broken down by level of education and by age group, but these estimates do not report on specific graduate cohorts at the...

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

Simon Harris: I regularly meet with the CEOs of all aegis bodies of my Department, including the Higher Education Authority. I last met with Dr. Alan Wall, CEO of the HEA, on July 10 2023. I will meet Dr. Wall later this week at the Funding our Future Steering Group.

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

Simon Harris: Higher education institutions are academically independent and regulate their own academic affairs and administrative processes. The Universities Act, 1997 confers on universities autonomy with regards to the internal day to day running of the institution, the administrative processes, and the academic and operational affairs of the institution. It is therefore not under my remit to...

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

Simon Harris: On 29 November 2022, I received Government approval for a new policy to provide state assistance to stimulate the development of new and additional student accommodation for public higher education institutions. This landmark policy response will, for the first time, see the State providing financial support in the construction of student accommodation, and underpins the policy commitments...

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

Simon Harris: I would like to thank the Deputy for this question relating to property or sites in the ownership of the Higher Education Authority and whether any of them are vacant or derelict. My Department has checked with the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on this matter and they have confirmed that the HEA does not own any sites or properties which are vacant or derelict. The HEA has further...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Policies (10 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....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Policies (10 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....

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

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 608 and 609 together. 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...

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

Simon Harris: My Department does not own any buildings or land in County Clare. The information in respect of public bodies, within the scope of the Deputy’s question, is not held by my Department. Contact details for these bodies are set out in the attached document, should the Deputy wish to contact the aegis bodies directly with her query. Contact E-Mail Addresses for State Bodies under the...

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

Simon Harris: Under the Further Education and Training Act (2013), SOLAS has statutory responsibility for planning, funding, and co-ordinating Further Education and Training (FET) in Ireland. My officials have referred your query to SOLAS for direct reply on this individual matter. If the individual does not receive a response from SOLAS within 30 days, please do come back to my office for further follow-up.

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...

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...