Results 6,321-6,340 of 45,495 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Meetings (16 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: I visited County Clare on May 30th 2022. I visited Saint Anne's Community College, Coláiste Muire, College Road, College of FET Ennis Campus,, Scoil Mhuire and the College of FET Kilrush Campus. I intend to visit again later this year.

Science Week: Statements (15 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: I am delighted to have this opportunity to speak during Science Week. I thank the Business Committee for scheduling the debate. I acknowledge that Deputy Naughten specifically sought this debate, which he does on an annual basis. It is a very worthwhile exercise to have such a debate in our national Parliament during Science Week. As we continue to navigate our way through a global...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (15 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: As part of Budget 2023 I have secured a significant cost of living package for third level students. The cost-of-living package, to take effect before the end of 2022, includes: - A once-off €1,000 state financial support towards the undergraduate student contribution fee for higher education students eligible for the free fees initiative; - A once-off reduction of up to 33% in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions (15 Nov 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 (HEI) who set the policy criteria for the scheme. The IUA has provided a direct response for the Deputy, which I will ask my Department to send to you.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (15 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: The student referred to by the Deputy submitted an appeal to the Student Grant Appeals Board (the Board). This appeal was heard on the 8th November 2022 and the decision of the Appeals Officer in SUSI was overturned. The decision was communicated directly to the student and the appeal is now finalised.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (15 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: The increases mentioned in the correspondence are those announced as part of Budget 2023, namely a once off payment of €500 in 2022 for all PhD students currently in receipt of a stipend from either Science Foundation Ireland or the Irish Research Council, and an increase to the baseline stipend of €500 in 2023 for the same cohort of students. It is expected that the once off...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (15 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: The fee payable by a student can vary depending on a variety factors including the type of course and the student's access route. The assessment of a students application and the determination of the appropriate fee rate is a function of the institution attended. It is therefore necessary for students to contact the institution attended for guidance on the fees applicable to a course of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (15 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: HEAnet, on behalf of the Department, is currently working with ETBs on a pilot project to test and roll out two services to the ETB sector, Edugate Federated Identity and eduroam. These services will allow third-level students to access secure eduroam Wi-Fi across the country. Edugate is HEAnet’s federated single sign-on (SSO) service which deals with over 40 million...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (15 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: Conversion courses are open to graduates who have not taken an accredited programme in the discipline. The University of Limerick offers a 2-year professional qualification in Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech and language therapy, however there are additional entry requirements to these programmes, including undertaking of the HPAT or GAMSAT. These programmes are recognised by...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: He has done it twice now.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (10 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 276 to 278, inclusive, together. The increases to which the Deputy refers are those announced as part of Budget 2023, namely a once off payment of €500 in 2022 for all PhD students currently in receipt of a stipend from either Science Foundation Ireland or the Irish Research Council, and an increase to the baseline stipend of €500 in 2023 for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (10 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: A key commitment of the ‘Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025’ is to grow the number of apprenticeship registrations across the public service, including local authorities, to reach 750 annual registrations by 2025. This represents a more than seven-fold increase on 2020 registrations and will support a long-term goal of 7% of the apprentice population being employed by...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Reform (10 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: The Government agreed a sustainable funding model for higher education in May 2022 following an extensive economic assessment undertaken through the European Commission's DG Reform programme, Funding the Future, the Government's policy response, settled the question on funding Higher Education. The Government has decided that income contingent loans will not form part of the future...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (9 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: Erasmus+ is the EU's programme (2021 - 2027) to support education, training, youth and sport in Europe. It has an estimated budget of €26.2 billion. This is nearly double the funding compared to its predecessor programme. The 2021-2027 programme places a strong focus on social inclusion, the green and digital transitions, and promoting young people’s participation in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (9 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: My Department facilitates secondments of officials to other organisations, as a result of their particular skill sets, to meet specific business needs and/or to facilitate career development opportunities. There is currently only one civil servant on secondment from my Department to a State agency or other public body, on a fixed-term contract basis, in a role which attracts a higher salary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Staff (8 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: The Croke Park Agreement (CPA) hours are part of wider productivity measures introduced under the Public Service Agreements. With regard to categories of public servants to which they apply, in terms of schools, the CPA hours are 33 additional hours a year at post primary (36 hours at primary) worked by teachers. I understand that CPA hours may also apply to certain grades in Third Level...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (8 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 800 and 811 together. The fee payable by a student can vary depending on a variety factors including the type of course and the student's access route including previous education. For full time undergraduate students, under my Department’s free fees schemes, the Exchequer provides funding toward the tuition fee costs of eligible undergraduate...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (8 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: Entry to medicine in Irish HEIs is provided through both undergraduate and graduate entry routes. Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) is oneof the pathways to study medicine. Students pursuing graduate entry medicine (GEM) programmes do so as second degree courses and consequently are not eligible for free fees funding or for student grants. However, in order to widen access to GEM programmes and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (8 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 802 and 832 together. As part of Budget 2023, in recognition of the cost of living financial challenges facing full time third level students funded through my Department, I have 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (8 Nov 2022)

Simon Harris: The total level of fees charged to Graduate Entry Medicine students is a matter for the higher education institutions, consistent with the principle of their institutional autonomy.   Students pursuing Graduate Entry Medicine programmes do so as second degree courses and consequently are not eligible for free fees funding or for student grants. However, the State does provide...