Results 6,801-6,820 of 45,495 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (13 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: The Student Assistance Fund (SAF) is allocated to Higher Education Institutions to assist participating students in both temporary and ongoing financial need, where students apply depending on their particular circumstances. This fund is managed by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on behalf of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS)....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research and Development (13 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 418 to 421, inclusive, together. Innovate for Ireland (I4I) is an innovative programme aimed at attracting and retaining research talent in Ireland. The purpose of the programme is to attract high achieving world class talent who might not have considered undertaking a PhD programme or, if they had, would not have considered Ireland as a location. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (13 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the attached table. Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Role Annual salary Minister €183,923 Minister of State €141,657 Role Annual salary or salary scale Secretary General...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (13 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: Section 473A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 sets out the conditions for tax relief on tuition fees for higher education. Relief at the standard rate of tax is available in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education. Details on eligibility and further information on how to claim this relief can be found online here:...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (13 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: The majority of staff employed by my Department are recruited via the Public Appointments Service (PAS). I understand that all recruitment activities are undertaken by the PAS in line with the Commission for Public Service Appointment's (CPSA) Code of Practice for Appointment to Positions in the Civil Service and Public Service ensuring equity, fairness, equal opportunity, diversity and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (13 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: At the outset it is important to highlight the very substantial financial support, currently well in excess of half a billion euros, provided by the taxpayer towards tuition fees and the student contribution for students in higher education. This comprises State funding of tuition costs amounting to over €357m for more than 146,000 eligible higher education students in 2020/2021. It...

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

Simon Harris: Officials from my Department are currently liaising with SUSI on this matter. Due to the complex nature of the query it is not possible to give the Deputy an answer at this stage. Once the information has been collated it will be forwarded to the Deputy directly in the coming days.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (13 Jul 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. Currently Postgraduate...

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

Simon Harris: The eligibility criteria for student grants are reviewed annually by my Department and approved by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. All proposals made in relation to higher education expenditure, including student grants for the 2022/23 academic year, are considered in the context of the annual budgetary process. In Budget 2022, I reduced the qualifying distance criterion for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (13 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: My Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to HEA designated higher education institutions. The HEA allocates this funding to the institutions via the recurrent funding model. The amount provided under my Departments B4 subhead and the National Training Fund (NTF) Enterprise Focused Higher Education provision are included in the...

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

Simon Harris: One of the five overarching objectives of the ‘Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025’is "Apprenticeship for All" so that the profile of the apprenticeship population more closely reflects the profile of the general population. The Plan promotes general access, diversity and inclusion in apprenticeship through targeted actions to encourage participation from under-represented...

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

Simon Harris: An Annual Student Contribution (ASC) is levied on all students attending Institutes of Technology (IoTs) and Technological Universities. The amount of ASC charged to apprentices is calculated on a pro rata basis of the time which they spend in the institution during the academic year. In cases where training is delivered in an Education and Training Board there is no contribution required...

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

Simon Harris: As the Deputy may be aware, in Budget 2022 I reduced the qualifying distance criterion for students to qualify for the non-adjacent rate of grant from 45km to 30km to support students who must travel long-distances to their place of education. These changes will come into effect from the start of the 2022/23 academic year. The adjacent rate of maintenance grant is payable in the case of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (13 Jul 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 centralized student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine. With regard to this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Rights of People with Disabilities (13 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: My Department is not the owner of any buildings or offices. The procurement, purchase and rent of Government offices is the responsibility of Property Management Services in the Office of Public Works, which acts as an agent for all Government Departments and offices. The Deputy will be aware that the National Disability Authority (NDA) and the Office of Public Works (OPW) are working closely...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Rights of People with Disabilities (13 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: My Department has put in place a Disability Consultative Committee as mandated under Action 32 of the National Disability and Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021. The Committee held its most recent meeting in late May 2022. The next meeting is scheduled for early September 2022. The committee consists of nominees from the Disability Stakeholders Group, a number of sections within my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research and Development (13 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: Health research policy falls under the responsibility of the Department of Health. My Department has structures in place under Impact 2030 for coordination & consultation on matters of common concern in the research & innovation area. My Department has not had engagement with the Department of Health on the EU Pharmaceutical strategy to date.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Intellectual Property (13 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 438 to 440, inclusive, together. My Department works closely with other government departments including the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. This is reflected in the governance structures established under Impact 2030: Ireland’s Research and Innovation Strategy. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment develops...

Confidence in Government: Motion (12 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: Cheaper shoes.

Confidence in Government: Motion (12 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: The reason we are describing this as an exercise in cynicism is as follows. There was a legitimate debate in the House a couple of weeks ago as to when we should have the budget and on the size of the budget package. The Government responded, moved the date of the budget forward and will now deliver a budget package bigger than previously planned. However, instead of now allowing the...