Results 5,981-6,000 of 45,495 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Disability Diagnoses (18 Jan 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 such they are autonomous in relation to their administrative and academic affairs, and admissions policy offered by any institution, including special exemption...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (18 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: The Student Grant Scheme is the principal support for students in financial terms by my Department. It provides grant assistance to eligible students attending approved full-time courses in approved further or higher educational institutions who meet the prescribed eligibility criteria of the relevant scheme. The Scheme is administered on behalf of my Department by the national student grant...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (18 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: The Deputy will be aware that, in response to the invasion of Ukraine, and in line with the decision by the European Council on 4 March 2022, the Government is providing beneficiaries with immediate access to the labour market, along with access to social welfare, accommodation and other State supports including healthcare and education under the International Protection Act 2015. All...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Health and Safety (18 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: Safe Pass training and assessment is delivered by SOLAS Approved Training Organisations (ATOs) and tutors.  All SOLAS approved Safe Pass providers are independent commercial entities. The number of training organisations approved to provide Safe Pass training for 2022 is 65. The number of approved organisations has increased year-on-year from 2018, except for 2021.  ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Health and Safety (18 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: Safe Pass card applications and registrations are processed on demand. SOLAS has and will continue to have the capacity to meet demand. There is currently no delay in the processing of Safe Pass cards. Safe Pass training and assessment is delivered by SOLAS Approved Training Organisations (ATOs) and tutors. These are private providers. As it is a demand-led programme, class sizes...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Health and Safety (18 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: SOLAS has no role in the setting of fees for Safe Pass courses.  All SOLAS approved Safe Pass course providers are independent commercial entities. Safe Pass course fees are determined by market forces and, as such, are a matter for each approved Safe Pass course provider. SOLAS does not receive any financial contribution from approved Safe Pass course providers in respect of course...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (18 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: I have been advised by the University of Limerick that work is ongoing between the University and the National Ambulance Service and progressing positively with regard to paramedic students being in a position to undertake their 52-week, post graduate, Internship (in Year 2 of their programme) with the National Ambulance Service .  University of Limerick BSc in Paramedic Studies...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (18 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to 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 decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralised student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (18 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: The Higher Education Authority (HEA) is in the middle of an expressions of interest process to build capacity in Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Dentistry and Veterinary. No decisions have been made in respect of provision or determining whether a new school is to be established at this stage as the process is still ongoing. An expert panel is to review all applications in the coming week. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Adult Education Provision (18 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: I wish to assure the Deputy that no changes have been made to the policy in relation to the provision of ETB adult education classes.  There has always been an emphasis within ETBs to provide training courses, which assist the learner's progression and subsequently, lead to accreditation.  ETBs also provide training courses for learners, who may wish to acquire a skill for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (18 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: A joined up approach with the Department of Health, Department of Education and Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is necessary to determine system level demand in each therapy discipline. Officials in my Department are engaged with officials across these Departments in progressing this work.   My Department remains committed to delivering a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (18 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: The Legal Aid Board is the statutory, independent body responsible for the provision of civil legal aid and advice to persons of modest means in the State, in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 and the Civil Legal Aid Regulations 1996, as amended. I can advise the Deputy that a meeting took place between Minister Helen McEntee and the Chairperson of the Legal...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (18 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the compilation and publication of all crime statistics. The CSO produce statistics using data recorded on An Garda Síochána’s PULSE system and make regular releases under reservation in relation to various crime statistics, including recorded and detected...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (18 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: The persons referred to by the Deputy were issued a letter refusing permission to remain in the state on 4 May 2022. In response to a notification pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), written representations have been submitted on behalf of the persons concerned. These representations, together with all other information and documentation on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Agreements (18 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: I am aware that the UK have very recently lifted the visa requirement on Colombia for short visits and that this arrangement also applies in the Schengen area. The Deputy will also be aware that both the UK and Schengen States intend to introduce in the near future an Electronic Travel Authorisation System for certain non-visa required countries. It is the case that Colombia remains on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (18 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: A number of steps have been taken in recent years to upgrade the visa processing system to make it more efficient and easier for applicants from abroad to submit their visa applications for travel to Ireland; this has included the availability of services provided by an external provider via Visa Application Centres (VACs). It is important to state that the services provided by the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: State Bodies (18 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: As Deputy will be aware, the Legal Aid Board provides legal advice and aid under the relevant terms of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 and the Civil Legal Aid Regulations 1996-2017. Section 3(3) of the Act provides that the Board shall, subject to the provisions of the Act, be independent in the exercise of its functions. The acquisition of premises is an operational matter for the Legal...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (18 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: Applications for naturalisation are dealt with in chronological order by date received. When applications for a certificate of naturalisation are received by the Citizenship Division of my Department, they are subject to an initial check/examination. Citizenship Division is currently completing initial checks on applications received in August 2022. On completion of the initial...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (18 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: I can inform you that following full consideration by a Visa Officer, the visa application you refer to was refused. A letter issued to the applicant on 23 December 2022 outlines the reasons for this refusal. An appeals process, which is free of charge, is available. It allows applicants, in the event of a refusal of the application at first instance, to address the factors which gave...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (18 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1071 and 1118 together. My Department's overall objective is to have decisions made on applications from people seeking international protection as quickly as possible. This ensures that those who are found to be in need of protection in Ireland can receive it quickly and begin rebuilding their lives here with a sense of safety and security. It must be...