Results 6,761-6,780 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (15 Sep 2022)

Simon Harris: The main support available to students is the statutory based Student Grant Scheme where students are studying for the first time or are progressing to study at a higher level. 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. With regard to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (15 Sep 2022)

Simon Harris: Higher Education Institutions determine their own procedures for admission. The CAO process applications for undergraduate, and some postgraduate, courses on their behalf. Decisions on admissions are made by the Higher Education Institutions who then instruct the CAO to make offers to successful candidates. Neither I nor my Department have a role in the operation of the CAO and it is...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Education Policy (14 Sep 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank my colleague for raising this important matter, not only today in Seanad Éireann but also almost daily. I am aware of his genuine, deep commitment to and understanding of the importance of a university for Waterford in the south east in terms of educational access, economic investment, balanced regional development and ensuring Waterford can harness and reach its incredible full...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Education Policy (14 Sep 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank Senator Cummins. It is worthwhile to outline the progress that has been made with the campus expansion because sometimes that can be overlooked. Five steps have had to be gone through. The first step involved a recognition by myself, by my Department and by the Government, in agreeing with the position of the Senator and other Oireachtas colleagues, that we needed to expand the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (14 Sep 2022)

Simon Harris: A phased return to physical attendance in the workplace commenced for staff members in my Department following the easing of Government restrictions earlier this year. The majority of staff of my Department are currently attending the office for a minimum of two days per week and working remotely for the remaining days. Following the publication of the Blended Working Policy Framework for...

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

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 413 to 416, inclusive, together. The information sought by the Deputy is currently being compiled by SUSI, who are the awarding authority. I have arranged for officials from my Department to forward the information directly to the Deputy's office once it is received from SUSI.

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

Simon Harris: On 5 September, in advance of the budget, I published, for the first time, a costs of education paper which will set out the possible policy options, and their indicative costs, to aid public discussion on how we should prioritise any interventions to address costs of education. The paper “Funding the Future, an annual options paper on reducing the cost of higher education can be found...

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

Simon Harris: The Student Grant Scheme, administered by SUSI, provides grant assistance to students pursuing 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. I have been advised by my officials that the student outlined by the Deputy registered onto a course in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Scientific Research (14 Sep 2022)

Simon Harris: Under the National Development Plan 2018-2027, as part of Project Ireland 2040, the Government outlined its intention to review Ireland's membership of international research organisations, including CERN. The Government gave a specific commitment in Innovation 2020 to initiate discussions with several international research organisations. Four organisations were identified – CERN, the...

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

Simon Harris: The main support available to assist students with the cost of attending further or higher education is the Student Grant Scheme. Under the Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to eligible students attending an approved full-time course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and...

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

Simon Harris: Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are autonomous institutions within the meaning of the Universities Act 1997, the Institutions of Technology Acts 1992 to 2006 and the Technological Universities Act 2018. Under this legislation the institutions are academically independent and are entitled to regulate their own academic affairs and administrative processes, including the mode of delivery...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Qualifications Recognition (14 Sep 2022)

Simon Harris: My Department has been advised by the Department of Health of the following arrangement regarding social care workers. The Social Care Workers Register is due to open on the 30 November 2023. This will begin a two-year transition period for existing practitioners to apply to register with CORU. On 30 November 2025, the title 'Social Care Worker' will become a legally protected title in...

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

Simon Harris: The review of the Student Grants Scheme was published on the 4th May 2022 and makes a number of recommendations on issues including the rates of grant, income thresholds, adjacency criteria, part-time learning and postgraduate support. I have already instigated improvements to the student grant scheme in Budget 2022. For the academic year 2022/23:- - There has been an increase to all student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (14 Sep 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. A student may wish to discuss his/her individual circumstances with the SUSI Support Desk by calling 0818 888 777. A very important feature of the scheme is the change of circumstances provision. If a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (14 Sep 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 426 and 427 together. The provision of Higher Education funding on an annual basis is part of overall expenditure management and budgetary policy for Government. It is worth noting that Government investment in Higher Education is not specifically allocated against a per student metric and state investment in the sector is not limited to the recurrent...

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

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 428 and 429 together. Apprenticeships are employer led demand driven educational and training programmes that aim to develop the skills of an apprentice in order to meet the needs of industry and the labour market. As apprentices are employees, the demand for and number of apprentices is primarily dictated by the employers in any area or sector. The Action...

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

Simon Harris: The cost-of-living pressures that have been brought on largely as a consequence of the Covid pandemic and the war in Ukraine are impacting across society in Ireland. This Government is acutely aware of this and is sensitive to the effects in certain pockets of society more than others. I, as Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, am working with officials...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (14 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: The Programme for Government commits the Department of Health to working with the education sectors, regulators, and professional bodies to improve the availability of health professionals and reform their training to support integrated care across the entire health service. My Department is strongly committed to supporting the health of the population through the provision of graduates with...

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

Simon Harris: The main support available to students is the statutory based Student Grant Scheme administered by SUSI. The Student Grant Scheme supports eligible postgraduate students with the cost of attending higher education. Budget 2021 provided for enhanced postgraduate supports from the 2021/22 academic year including the fee grant amount rising from €2,000 to €3,500 and the income...

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

Simon Harris: It is clear that as a country we need to dramatically increase the supply of all types of housing and accommodation, including student accommodation. That is why the Government launched Housing for All, led by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage setting out a series of actions which will be delivered to address the housing crisis. The plan is backed by the largest housing...