Results 521-540 of 33,696 for speaker:Simon Harris in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (10 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: On 29 November 2022, I received Government approval for a new policy to provide state assistance to stimulate the development of new and additional student accommodation for public higher education institutions. This landmark policy response will, for the first time, see the State providing financial support in the construction of student accommodation, and underpins the policy commitments...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Properties (10 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: I would like to thank the Deputy for this question relating to property or sites in the ownership of the Higher Education Authority and whether any of them are vacant or derelict. My Department has checked with the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on this matter and they have confirmed that the HEA does not own any sites or properties which are vacant or derelict. The HEA has further...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Policies (10 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....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Policies (10 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....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (10 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 608 and 609 together. The Memorandum of Understanding on the Education Principles for the Common Travel Area, which I signed in July of 2021, commits the Irish and UK Governments to maintain reciprocal rights of Irish and British citizens to access programmes in higher education institutions in each other's States on terms no less favourable that the citizens...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Properties (10 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department does not own any buildings or land in County Clare. The information in respect of public bodies, within the scope of the Deputy’s question, is not held by my Department. Contact details for these bodies are set out in the attached document, should the Deputy wish to contact the aegis bodies directly with her query. Contact E-Mail Addresses for State Bodies under the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (10 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: Under the Further Education and Training Act (2013), SOLAS has statutory responsibility for planning, funding, and co-ordinating Further Education and Training (FET) in Ireland. My officials have referred your query to SOLAS for direct reply on this individual matter. If the individual does not receive a response from SOLAS within 30 days, please do come back to my office for further follow-up.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Electric Vehicles (5 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: The installation costs of electric vehicle charging points at Irish Universities are eligible for HEA funded expenditure under for example, the Devolved Capital Grant and through various Capital Investment Programmes. However, it is not possible to isolate these costs, particularly in the case of general building projects as many Universities would include them as part of the enabling...

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...

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...