Results 3,541-3,560 of 45,495 for speaker:Simon Harris

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...

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...

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.