Results 3,561-3,580 of 45,495 for speaker:Simon Harris

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...

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...

Supplementary Estimates for Public Services 2023: Leave to Introduce (27 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: I move: That leave be given by the Dáil to introduce the following Supplementary Estimate for the service of the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2023: Vote 40 — Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (Supplementary Estimate).

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: No, it certainly is not. SETU is already making a hugely positive impact in Waterford. Much to the contrary of some of the Deputy's own public commentary, the Waterford Crystal site will be purchased - that will go to the governing authority very shortly - and the PPP process is very much in hand.

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

Simon Harris: One of the five overarching objectives of the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025is "Apprenticeship for All". That is, ensuring that the profile of the apprenticeship population more closely reflects the profile of the general population. As of end-August 2023, there were 1,982 female apprentices, representing 8% of the overall apprentice population. This compares to 1,321 in April 2021,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (26 Sep 2023)

Simon Harris: I have been clear that I want to see the student's contribution towards tuition fees in higher education reduce in a meaningful way over the course of the annual budget process. In this regard I was pleased to secure Government agreement to the introduction of a permanent new rate of student contribution support through SUSI from September 2023. For students whose families have incomes...

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

Simon Harris: My Department and the Department of Health are aware of the challenges being encountered for Northern Ireland Medical School graduates meeting deadlines for Internship in Republic of Ireland. I am informed that there has been ongoing engagement with the HSE, Medical Council and Northern Ireland universities to address these issues. I understand from the Department of Health that the...

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

Simon Harris: Awaiting reply from Department.

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

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will appreciate, third level institutions are autonomous institutions within the meaning of the Universities Act 1997 and the Technological Universities Act 2018. As such, individual institutions are responsible for student and staffing matters and are subject to compliance with relevant legislation. My Department does not collect nor have access to information regarding the...

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...