Results 3,501-3,520 of 45,291 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (20 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: The matter referred to by the deputy relates to EIB Loan Approval for capital works at UCC. Section 38 of the Universities Act, 1997 sets out the basis for borrowing and loan guarantees by universities. It provides for such borrowing in accordance with a framework agreed between the universities and the Higher Education Authority. The current borrowing framework provides for universities to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Appointments (13 Jul 2023)

Simon Harris: The Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour details the requirements for all staff members on the acceptance of outside appointments following resignation or retirement where the nature and terms of such appointment could lead to a conflict of interest or the perception of such. In addition, it also states that civil servants who hold positions which are “designated...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (13 Jul 2023)

Simon Harris: The matter of health workforce planning and ensuring an appropriate pipeline of qualified healthcare workers within Ireland is a major priority for my Department. As the Deputy will be aware, Higher Education Institutions are autonomous institutions responsible for their own academic affairs including the curriculum and student numbers on individual courses. Where the State seeks to see an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (13 Jul 2023)

Simon Harris: The Deputy may be aware that the State currently provides supports for broadening access to Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) programmes through the part-subsidy of places for EU students, with the fees payable by the student determined by the higher education institution, taking the availability of this subsidy into account. My Department has been working to address the cost of GEM provision by...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (13 Jul 2023)

Simon Harris: The costs incurred by a Higher Education Institution in increasing student places on a particular course can vary depending on a variety factors including the type of course and the individual circumstances of the relevant Higher Education Institution. For non-EU places in medicine, as the Deputy will be aware, the tuition fee payable by non-EU students are determined by the institution...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (13 Jul 2023)

Simon Harris: Assessment of means under the Student Grant Scheme 2023 is based on gross income fromall sources, of the dependent applicant and his/her parents. No deduction is given for outgoings with the exception of pension contributions, legally enforceable maintenancepayments and employment related expenses as approved by Revenue. For the purposes of determining the reckonable income of an applicant,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (13 Jul 2023)

Simon Harris: It is a priority of my Department to expand the pathways to tertiary education by providing a multitude of routes outside the traditional CAO process. As the Deputy is aware, there are a range of options in the system that learners can consider. For those who do not gain access to their course of choice via the CAO system, there are many alternative education paths available to them. That...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (13 Jul 2023)

Simon Harris: Further Education and Training (FET) courses are delivered, or contracted, by the 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs) across the country at levels 1-6 on the NFQ. While this is under the funding and strategic direction of SOLAS, the ETBs decide on the level and nature of provision, including healthcare-related courses, based on local demand in consultation with SOLAS. In 2022, just...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (13 Jul 2023)

Simon Harris: Late last year, I was delighted to announce that the proposal for the project referred to by the Deputy was successful at the first stage of the assessment process under the FET College of the Future Major Projects Fund. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that since then my department has worked closely with SOLAS in developing a suite of templates and guidance notes in line with Public...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Budgets (13 Jul 2023)

Simon Harris: The revised National Development Plan (NDP) provides for Exchequer investment of nearly €2.9 billion in further and higher education infrastructure, research and innovation over the five-year period 2021–2025. The capital allocation in 2022 was €537m. In addition there were carryover of monies of €31.2m from 2021 available in 2022. The capital allocation in 2023...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Schemes (13 Jul 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department currently has two interns from the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service (IGEES). These IGEES interns will be working with the Department for a 12 week period from June 26th2023. The Department does not presently have any apprenticeships or graduate schemes in operation. The information in respect of the aegis bodies, within the scope of the Deputy’s question,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (12 Jul 2023)

Simon Harris: The amount paid by my Department in 2022 and to date in 2023 on outside/third-party reports of a technical nature or qualitative and quantitative nature can be found in the table attached. RPS Consulting Engineers Ltd Consultancy fees - National Maritime College of Ireland PPP € 11,044.00 ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (12 Jul 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 which relate to nationality, residency, approved course, previous academic attainment and means. The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research and Development (12 Jul 2023)

Simon Harris: The Research and Innovation Policy Advisory Forum is being established as provided for under Impact 2030, Ireland’s national research and innovation strategy. This Forum reflects international good practice in the development of national R&I systems and forms the final piece of the governance and oversight aspect of Impact 2030, along with the Steering Group and the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (12 Jul 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department allocates current funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to HEA designated higher education institutions towards their operating costs. Details of funding in the years 2019 to 2022, to Technological Universities and the relevant former Institutes of Technology by the HEA, are outlined in the attached table. The amounts listed include funding...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (12 Jul 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 to the individual in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (11 Jul 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 859 and 879 together. The difficulties faced by students in accessing affordable student accommodation is an issue of which Government and I are actively pursuing. This issue is heightened by the shortage of accommodation in the wider private rental market. Government is committed to addressing supply of affordable student accommodation attending publicly...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions (11 Jul 2023)

Simon Harris: The CAO is an independent body, its function is to process applications for undergraduate courses and some postgraduate courses on behalf of the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Enquiries regarding the CAO applications process should be addressed to the CAO directly. Neither I nor my Department have a role in the operation of the CAO. The CAO has an Independent Appeals Commission (IAC),...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (11 Jul 2023)

Simon Harris: Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to eligible 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. The Student Grant Scheme provides maintenance grants to eligible undergraduate students pursuing...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (11 Jul 2023)

Simon Harris: The purpose of the Student Grant Scheme is to provide additional assistance where parental income is below a certain threshold, or in the case of independent mature students, where the level of income of the student and his or her spouse warrants additional assistance by way of a grant. For student grant purposes, students are categorised according to their circumstances either as...