Results 6,741-6,760 of 46,267 for speaker:Simon Harris

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

Simon Harris: There are a range of courses which include a focus on urban and rural planning, including courses in architecture and urban planning. In the 2021/2022 academic year, there were c. 50 relevant courses available at levels 8-10 on the National Framework for Qualifications, with student enrollments rising by over 19% since the 2017/2018 academic year. Please find attached list of programmes for...

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

Simon Harris: There are a range of courses available at Level 8 - Level 9 on the National Framework of Qualifications relevant to marine planning, including courses such as, but not limited to, Bachelor of Science (Marine Science), MSc in Applied Coastal Marine Management, Bachelor of Science (Hons) Environmental Planning and Management, MPlan (Planning and Sustainable Development) and Master of Science...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (18 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: 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 with the employer paying the apprentice during both on-the-job and off-the-job training elements of the apprenticeship. For the 25 craft apprenticeship...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (18 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: As of the end of December 2022, there were a total of 5,628 registrations across all the construction apprenticeship programmes. Of these, 4,797 registrations were on construction apprenticeship programmes, and 831 were registrations on construction-related apprenticeship programmes. The full list of programmes and their total registration numbers are set out in the table. ...

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

Simon Harris: Due to the impact of travel restrictions during the pandemic, Erasmus funding through the British Council continued for Northern Ireland students to the end of current academic year. My officials have already  been in touch with International Officers in Queens University Belfast and University of Ulster with a view to having revised mobility arrangements for students from Northern...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Language Schools (18 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: The Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Act 2019 contains a number of legislative provisions which are aimed at strengthening the quality framework for the provision of education to international learners in Ireland.  These provisions include the introduction of the International Education Mark (IEM), a new national quality mark designed to protect...

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

Simon Harris: My Department does not have a role in relation to the terms and conditions of loans which might be offered by lenders to students for particular purposes.  This is a matter between the relevant lenders and the students applying for such loans. Neither does my Department have any plans to directly introduce a loan scheme for students of Graduate Entry Medicine.  However, the...

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

Simon Harris: 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. Under the progression criteria of the Student Grant Scheme, a grant will not be paid to a student for a repeat period of study on the same course, or for a different course at the same level, irrespective of whether or not a...

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

Simon Harris: The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly TD and I jointly announced an agreement with the Irish medical schools to increase the number of places available for EU students by 200 over the next five years. The agreement reached with the medical schools began with an additional 60 EU students in September 2022, climbing to 120 in September 2023, and up to 200 by 2026.  My Department...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research and Development (18 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: In November last year, I indicated in Dáil Éireann that my Department will prepare a submission for Government to consider joining CERN. In order to ensure appropriate due diligence, this memo for government can be expected by the second quarter of 2023. Officials from my Department are now liaising with CERN regarding the total cost of membership, the application process and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ministerial Responsibilities (18 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: In December 2022 Niall Collins, T.D. was appointed as Minister of State  with special responsibility for Skills and Further Education at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. While no Order has yet been made regarding the delegation of functions, Minister Collins undertakes a range of work as Minister of State at the Department, including on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (18 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department has not contracted to provide any media training for me during the period referred to by the Deputy.

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...