Results 3,721-3,740 of 45,495 for speaker:Simon Harris

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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (11 Jul 2023)

Simon Harris: The ‘Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025’ sets out new ways of structuring, funding, and promoting apprenticeships to make apprenticeship accessible to employers and learners. The Plan seeks to deliver on a target of 10,000 apprenticeship registrations per annum, across a wide range of programmes, by 2025. The Action Plan is based on feedback from enterprise, the education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (11 Jul 2023)

Simon Harris: The Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has appointed two Special Advisors, Ms Sarah Bardon and Mr Max Murphy. They can be contacted at sarah_bardon@dfhers.gov.ie; max_murphy@dfheris.gov.ie The Minister of State does not currently have a Special Advisor in place.

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

Simon Harris: The DARE scheme is a reduced points mechanisms for entry into higher education. The scheme is managed and operated by the Irish Universities Association (IUA) on behalf of the higher education institutions who are autonomous bodies. Admissions under the scheme is regulated by the higher education institutions themselves. Each institution determines its own admissions policy in relation to the...

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

Simon Harris: TU Dublin has advised that neither the Deputy President nor the Chief Operating Officer have received any pay increases outside routine pay awards since their appointment to their respective roles.

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

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 868, 869, 870 and 871 together. Two of the Technological Universities have foundations to raise philanthropic donations for their university; the Munster Technological University (MTU) and the Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin). The Atlantic Technological University (ATU), the Technological University Shannon (TUS), and the South East Technological...

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

Simon Harris: The chairpersons of higher education institutions are appointed by the governing body of those institutions, in accordance with the relevant sectoral legislation. Therefore, all of the information requested concerning the chairpersons of higher education institutions; the term of office of each; the number of terms served by each; the method of appointment, annual remuneration and expenses...

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

Simon Harris: The nationality requirements for the Student Grant Scheme are set out in Section 14 of the Student Support Act 2011 and Regulation 5 of the Student Support Regulations 2023. The candidate's nationality or immigration status in the State determines whether or not they meet the nationality requirement outlined in the Act and Regulations, and would be therefore eligible to qualify for a student...

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

Simon Harris: Officials from the Department of Further and Higher Education Research Innovation and Science are in ongoing discussions with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth since this matter was first brought to our attention.

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

Simon Harris: Higher Education Institutions are autonomous bodies within the meaning of the Universities Act 1997, the Institutes of Technology Acts 1992 to 2006, and the Technological Universities Act 2018 as appropriate. As autonomous bodies they are responsible for their own day-to-day management and operational affairs. This includes the management of academic affairs relating to the type and method...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pension Provisions (11 Jul 2023)

Simon Harris: The business case supporting access to the single pension scheme by researchers in TUs remains under consideration. I understand that my officials have sought updates in recent weeks, while the matter was also discussed at an IR forum with the TUI in April where the need for progress was emphasised. I remain firmly of the view that there should be access to public service pensions for...

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

Simon Harris: Prior to the establishment of DFHERIS and the transfer of functions from DES to DFHERIS, the then Department of Education and Skills annually awarded a number of bursaries to Leaving Certificate students who were progressing to higher education. The bursary schemes that were in operation since 2012, targeted students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds and these included the The...

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

Simon Harris: My Department does not currently produce specific projections regarding third level enrolments, by county or by Higher Education Institution. Work is ongoing on an updated set of enrolment projections for higher education, which will assist in capacity-building programme of work across all disciplines with skills shortages. Further information regarding projections for higher education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (11 Jul 2023)

Simon Harris: I can advise the Deputy that neither my Department nor any agency under its aegis operates a 'barter account' for the provision of goods or services.

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

Simon Harris: SOLAS has provided details of the enrolments on level 5 pre-nursing courses for the academic years 2021-22 and 2022-23 as set out in the following table: Student Enrolment in level 5 Pre-nursing Courses Provider 2021-22 Enrolments 2022-23 Enrolments Cavan and Monaghan ETB 89 61 City of Dublin ETB 377 296...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (11 Jul 2023)

Simon Harris: The respective Student Grant Scheme and the Free Fees Initiative (FFI) are separate schemes operated in line with their respective operating parameters. It is important to note that the inclusion of a course under reference for the student grant scheme does not give rise to approval for funding under the FFI or other funding initiatives such as Springboard+. In relation to the Student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Brexit Supports (11 Jul 2023)

Simon Harris: The information that the Deputy is seeking is not readily available. I am currently collecting and collating the data required and will come back to the Deputy as soon as possible.