Results 4,381-4,400 of 45,495 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (16 May 2023)

Simon Harris: The information requested by the Deputy is not available. The key source of statistics on students in higher education is the HEA's student records system (SRS) which records enrolments as at March of every academic year, giving a single point of reference. Therefore data is not available on a national level on students who leave their programme during the course of the academic year. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (16 May 2023)

Simon Harris: Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are autonomous and academically independent and each Higher Education Institution is responsible for its own Irish language strategy. Information would need to be sought from the HEIs directly. However, my Department is committed to the implementation of the Official Languages Act and provision of Irish-language services to its customers, and the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Legislative Measures (16 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I am committed to ensuring that the important views of the research community are captured and reflected on as the implementation of the new agency proceeds. A programme of stakeholder consultation has been taking place since the development of Impact 2030 Ireland's Research and Innovation Strategy and was integral to the development of that strategy. A High Level Group on the Research...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research and Development (16 May 2023)

Simon Harris: The main support available to assist postgraduate students with the cost of attending higher education is the Student Grant Scheme. Under the Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to eligible students attending an approved full-time course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research Funding (16 May 2023)

Simon Harris: The Heads of Bill provide that the new agency will have a board consisting of 12 members, including a chair, and that all appointments will be made by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. Careful consideration is being given to the competencies needed for the board, and the Department is seeking and listening to the views of stakeholders, as well as...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Sign Language (16 May 2023)

Simon Harris: The Deputy will be aware that the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 (the Act) was enacted on 24th December 2017 and commenced on 23rd December 2020. The Act recognises the right of Irish Sign Language (ISL) users to use ISL as their native language, and to develop and preserve it. The Act places a statutory duty on all public bodies to provide ISL users with free interpretation when availing of or...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Social Media (16 May 2023)

Simon Harris: It is a requirement of the Official Languages Act that documents setting out public policy proposals, annual reports, statements of strategy, and matters considered to be of major public importance, are published by Government Departments in both Irish and English and this is current practice. My department has not, to date, posted any social media content in Irish. In accordance with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Equality Issues (16 May 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to staff with disabilities. The Department is also committed to addressing the health and safety needs of all employees, including employees with disabilities. For this purpose, staff may be asked to indicate if they have any needs for reasonable accommodation or health and safety supports related to a disability. My...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (16 May 2023)

Simon Harris: Please find attached breakdown by ETB region of apprenticeships in tabular form.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Foreign Conflicts (11 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I am very conscious of the grave humanitarian crisis in Sudan. I understand that this is a difficult situation for our Sudanese community and their loved ones and I can assure you that all current immigration avenues remain open for new applications, including visa and family reunification applications. My Department will process any new applications received speedily and sympathetically...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (11 May 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy is aware, the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) has oversight of the registration and renewal of immigration permissions for persons residing outside of the Dublin area. The responsibility for the registration function at Immigration Offices outside of the Dublin Metropolitan Region rests with local Superintendents or the relevant Detective Superintendent. The waiting...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (11 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I can advise the Deputy that the application he refers to was created on the 11 April, 2022. Supporting documentation was received in the Belgrade office on the 11 July, 2022. The application was received in the Dublin Visa Office on the 19 August, 2022 where it awaits examination and processing. Long Stay Join Family visa applications are processed in accordance with the guidelines set...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (11 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I understand this is a difficult situation for our Afghan community and their loved ones. My Department has issued 450 approvals for beneficiaries under the Afghan Admission Programme as of 10 May and continues to process the remaining applications. To date no refusal letters have issued. A total of 528 applications in respect of 1,492 potential beneficiaries were received under the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Civil Service (11 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 235 and 236 together. I have contacted An Garda Síochána for the information requested by the Deputy, regretfully this information was not available in time. I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (11 May 2023)

Simon Harris: An application by the person concerned under the Regularisation of Long Term Undocumented Migrants scheme was received by the Undocumented Unit of my Department on 16 May, 2022 and continues to be processed. Due to the large number of applications on hand it is not possible to provide a definitive timeframe for a decision to issue. The processing times of applications will vary depending...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (11 May 2023)

Simon Harris: The person referred to by the Deputy holds a Stamp 1 immigration permission, which expires on 12 October 2023. It is open to the person concerned to contact their local Immigration Office four weeks before the expiration of their immigration permission. I note the person concerned has also submitted an application for naturalisation. This application continues to be processed by my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Agricultural Colleges (11 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 286 and 287 together. The college that the Deputy asks about is a private agricultural training institution which does not currently receive direct funding from my department, nor is there any direct oversight of their operations. My understanding is that the college provides training services, funded by both participants themselves and by Teagasc. In...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Nursing Education (11 May 2023)

Simon Harris: In December I announced new programmes which will see students commence their third level experience in further education and complete the remainder in higher education institutions. The project will be jointly managed by the HEA and SOLAS through the new National Tertiary Office which is governed by a memorandum of understanding between both organisations. A Director for the National...

European Year of Skills: Statements (10 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank the Ceann Conmhairle for the opportunity to discuss the OECD report on skills in the Dáil today. It is a timely intervention as yesterday also marked the beginning of the European Year of Skills 2023. This is the year in which we are all challenged to look at the skills in our own country but also to look at skills in our own lives and what skills we may wish to learn or avail...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (10 May 2023)

Simon Harris: The visa applications referred to by the Deputy were refused by the Visa Office in Dublin. The reasons for these decisions were set out in the refusal letters sent to the applicants on 24 January, 2023. Appeals of these decisions were received on 8 March, 2023. All visa applicants are advised that the onus is on them to provide as much information in support of their application as they feel...