Results 6,101-6,120 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (13 Dec 2022)

Simon Harris: The training capacity of each college of further education per apprenticeship type and the total increase since 2020, in tabular form is attached.

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 and previous qualification...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (13 Dec 2022)

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: Disabilities Assessments (13 Dec 2022)

Simon Harris: The Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) is operated by the Irish Universities Association (IUA) on behalf of the higher education institutions who set the policy criteria for the scheme. However we requested a response to your email from the IUA who have confirmed the following:- DARE is a competitive process. All first year undergraduate programmes in DARE participating colleges...

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

Simon Harris: As the Deputy may be aware, as autonomous bodies, admissions policies and procedures are matters which rest solely with the individual higher education institutions (HEIs). My Department put in place an emergency response via the National Student and Researcher (NSR) Helpdesk to help displaced students and researchers to apply to the Irish higher education system, noting that most arrived...