Results 6,081-6,100 of 45,495 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: EU Data (14 Dec 2022)

Simon Harris: The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science was established in 2020 and since that date no fines have been issued by the EU on the Department for failing to transpose EU Directives.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research and Development (14 Dec 2022)

Simon Harris: On 1 January 2021, responsibility for Ireland's research and innovation (R&I) policy transferred from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) to my Department. DETE had already commenced development of a new national R&I strategy to succeed Innovation 2020 and my officials continued this work. This led to the launch of Impact 2030: Ireland’s Research...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (14 Dec 2022)

Simon Harris: My Department has been engaged intensively in the context both of the pressures within the student and residential rental market. This combined with the escalation in building costs which has slowed the construction of purpose built student accommodation by publicly funded higher education institutions, are presenting significant difficulties for students in terms of supply and affordability...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Staff (14 Dec 2022)

Simon Harris: My Department has begun a national review of State supports for PhD researchers. In this regard, I was pleased to recently appoint Dr Andrea Johnson and David Cagney as Co-Chairs for the review. The scope of the review includes: - Current PhD researcher supports including financial supports (stipends, SUSI supports and others); - The adequacy, consistency and equity of current...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (14 Dec 2022)

Simon Harris: The loans available for Graduate Entry Medicine students are private arrangements between the relevant lenders and the students applying for such loans. However, I do understand from both students who have written to me and engagement with the relevant higher education institutions that the availability of such loans has been important in supporting people, including mature students, to study...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (14 Dec 2022)

Simon Harris: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine. For student grant purposes, students are categorised according to their circumstances either as students dependent on parents or a legal guardian, or as independent mature students. A student may be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (14 Dec 2022)

Simon Harris: Higher Education Institutions provide the pipeline of graduates into social care work and are keen to work with the regulator to assure their programmes and ensure the registration of graduates of social care programmes upon completion of their degrees. I fully respect CORU's role as an independent regulator and also fully support the regulation of the profession. Higher Education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (14 Dec 2022)

Simon Harris: As part of Budget 2023, I secured a significant cost of living package for third level students, including a once-off €1,000 state financial support towards the undergraduate student contribution fee for higher education students eligible for my Department’s free fees schemes. Funding through this once-off measure is available to full time undergraduate students eligible for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (14 Dec 2022)

Simon Harris: I have not been made aware of any plans to develop a new campus on the north side of Cork city. However, my Department is willing to work collaboratively with all higher education institutions and Education Training Boards on the development of capital projects in line with their established masterplans. My Department is currently supporting a number of key ongoing major capital projects...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Park-and-Ride Facilities (14 Dec 2022)

Simon Harris: My Department is willing to work collaboratively with all higher education institutions on the development of capital projects in line with their established masterplans. However the provision of public transport is a matter which is outside the remit of my Department and would be more appropriate for the Minister for Transport.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (14 Dec 2022)

Simon Harris: I should first say that my Department allocates specific funding for research through Science Foundation Ireland, the Irish Research Council and the Higher Education Authority. In 2021, SFI and the IRC spent €257 million on targeted research funding. Higher Education Institutions also fund research from their block grants from the HEA, in addition to other calls such as the North-South...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions (14 Dec 2022)

Simon Harris: This information is not held by my Department. The majority of our statistics on higher education enrolments are drawn from the Student Records System (SRS) of the HEA. The number of students attending Munster Technological University (MTU) and University College Cork (UCC) from the northside of Cork City is not available to the HEA. The most information that can be provided is the number...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (14 Dec 2022)

Simon Harris: As outlined previously under parliamentary question 36772 (Dáil reference 69) and again under parliamentary question 25373 (Dáil reference 156), - Apprentices are primarily employees and all of the 66 available apprenticeships are undertaken under a contract of employment. For the majority of apprenticeships, the rate of pay is agreed between the apprentice and the employer...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (14 Dec 2022)

Simon Harris: The number of apprentices registered in Cork ETB by phase in tabular form is attached. Apprentices registered to Cork ETB (by Phase) Craft Apprentices Consortia Apprentices Phase 1 1061 411 Phase 2 276 Phase 3 526 Phase 4 150 ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Social Media (14 Dec 2022)

Simon Harris: The Department has spent €17,126.90 on social media advertising in 2021 and to date in 2022. Platform Amount (€) Campaigns Twitter 4184.08 The Right Course; COVID-19 awareness; Student Grant Scheme changes in Budget 2022 Snapchat 2710.24 COVID-19 awareness; Student Grant Scheme changes in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (14 Dec 2022)

Simon Harris: The main support available to assist students with the cost of higher education is the Student Grant Scheme. Students attending an approved undergraduate course in an EU Member State or the United Kingdom can apply for a maintenance grant provided they meet the terms and conditions of the Student Grant Scheme. There is also a special derogation contained within the Student Support Act 2011...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Construction Industry (13 Dec 2022)

Simon Harris: My Department is working with colleagues in SOLAS, the HEA and other Departments to respond to projections of skills needs in the construction sector and to increase skills supply through the current network of tertiary skills provision. We are increasing the number of apprentices we train and the CAO offering has been changed to ensure that school leavers are aware of all of their...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Policies (13 Dec 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 469 and 472 together. Significant progress has been made in the further and higher education sectors since the establishment of my Department in August 2020. The 2021 Annual Report for the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science provides a comprehensive overview of the Department's achievements in 2021. The link for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (13 Dec 2022)

Simon Harris: A key principle of the design of the free fees initiative and the SUSI scheme is to encourage progression, that is, to support students in progressing through a chosen course of study from year to year. As a result, with very limited exceptions, students are not typically supported for a repeat period of study or for a different course at the same level. What this means is that the once...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (13 Dec 2022)

Simon Harris: Under my Department's Free Fees Initiative, the State pays tuition fees, exclusive of the student contribution, on behalf of eligible students attending approved full-time undergraduate courses. In order to qualify for funding under the Department’s Free Fees Initiative, students must meet the criteria of the scheme including the repeat period of study criteria. A key principle...