Results 5,341-5,360 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (2 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: In line with commitments in the National Economic Recovery Plan, my Department has undertaken the OECD’s Ireland Skills Strategy Review that is on track to be completed in 2023. The review focuses on an examination of National Skills Strategy and Ireland’s skills approaches in order to ensure that we have a solid foundation on which to build our competitiveness and support...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research and Development (2 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: The Research and Development Budget Survey 2021–2022 is currently being finalised by members of my staff and will be published on the departmental website shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (2 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: In line with commitments in the National Economic Recovery Plan, my Department has undertaken the OECD’s Ireland Skills Strategy Review that is on track to be completed in 2023. The review focuses on an examination of National Skills Strategy and Ireland’s skills approaches in order to ensure that we have a solid foundation on which to build our competitiveness and support...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (2 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: An application for the person referred to by the Deputy was received by the Undocumented Unit of my Department on 05 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 on the complexity of the application, whether it is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (2 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department, with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation. It will be submitted to me for decision in due course. The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (2 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy is aware, the 1983 Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons provides the current mechanism through which a person may seek a transfer of their prison sentence between Ireland and the UK. The legislative basis for these transfers is the Transfer of Sentenced Persons Act 1995 (as amended). I am advised by officials in the Irish Prison Service, who are the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Data Protection (2 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: The Programme for Government commits to ‘recognise the domestic and international importance of data protection in Ireland’ and states that the Government ‘will ensure that Ireland delivers on its responsibilities under the General Data Protection Regulation’. The Government is very conscious of the commitment to deliver effective data protection regulation and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (2 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: There is no citizenship application awaiting processing by my Department for the person referred to by the Deputy. The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, and all applications are processed in line with the eligibility criteria as set out under the Act. Each application is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (2 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: The Citizenship Division of my Department wrote to the applicant referred to by the Deputy on the 30 January 2023 setting out the current status of the application and requested documentary evidence in relation to matters outstanding.  Upon receipt of this documentation processing of the application will recommence, with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (2 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: An application by the person concerned for the Regularisation of Long Term Undocumented Migrants scheme was received by the Undocumented Unit of my Department on 04 March 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: Immigration Status (2 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: The person referred to by the Deputy is registered on a Stamp 3 immigration permission until 13 November 2023. It is open to the person concerned to apply for a change of immigration status if they meet the criteria for doing so. Further information on the criteria for changing immigration permission, including instructions on how to change permission are available on the Immigration...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (2 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: The person referred to by the Deputy has no valid immigration permission to remain in the State, as their previous immigration permission expired over 6 years ago.  It is important that persons keep their immigration permission up to date if they wish to continue to reside in the State. Where a person remains resident in the State without an immigration permission, I encourage them to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (1 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: Springboard+ is a targeted initiative, which is used to provide funding for higher education courses aimed at meeting the need for in-demand skills in the economy and supporting jobseekers to return to employment.   Unemployed people are eligible to participate on a part-time Springboard+ course provided they have a previous history of employment, are unemployed, are actively seeking...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (1 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: The fee payable by a student can vary depending on a variety of factors including the type of course and the student's access route. Typically there are two rates of fee, an EU Rate of Fee or a non-EU/International rate of fee. Higher education institutions are autonomous bodies and the level of tuition fee payable by students is a matter for the relevant institution to determine. This...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capital Expenditure Programme (1 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department is supporting a number of capital projects in Westmeath across both the Further and Higher sectors.  At higher level, this supports includes a new STEM Building for the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) – Athlone Campus which will consist of science labs, administration space and ancillary space.  The project forms part of Bundle 1 of the Higher...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (1 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: I can advise the Deputy that there are in place pre-existing stakeholder groups established to facilitate cooperation in this area. The Department of Justice, along with the Garda National Immigration Bureau, are members of the National Air Transport Facilitation Committee (NATFaC), including the NATFaC sub-group on immigration. The NATFaC is chaired by the Department of Transport. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (1 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department, with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation. It will be submitted to me for decision in due course. The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (1 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 143 to 145, inclusive, together. As the Deputy is aware, I obtained approval from the Government to close the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) to further applications from 15 February 2023. The closure of the Programme will not affect existing projects or individuals already approved under the programme. My Department will continue to monitor...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (1 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: Seeking protection is a human right and when someone asks for protection at the border of a country, that country’s authorities must examine that application. Ireland, as a party to the Geneva Convention, must also meet this obligation. Each application for international protection is examined in detail on its individual merits, taking all factors into account. Information is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (1 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: The standard fee of €300 payable by an applicant is designed to reflect the cost involved in processing registrations. The Registration Office of my Department also provides an online renewals portal that speeds up the renewal process and a customer service team that is available to support customers all of which are provided to enhance our customers experience. The cost of...