Results 7,261-7,280 of 46,267 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (18 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: My Department officials and I have engaged and continue to engage on an ongoing basis with the Minister and Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the wider higher education sector and relevant stakeholders on student accommodation issues including within the context of the advancement of the Government's Housing for All policy. Accommodation shortages in the private rental...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (18 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: The Deputy may be aware that I have made several changes to income thresholds, both in Budget 2022 and 2023. For the academic year 2022/23, I increased the income threshold to qualify for the standard rate of student grant by €1,000. As part of Budget 2023, I have secured a significant cost of living package for third level students including a once-off €1,000 state...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (18 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 118, 596 and 598 together. As is clear from the actions already taken in the cost of living measures outlined in Budget 2023, my Department is monitoring the issue of stipends and the views expressed by students and other stakeholders, in the context of the resources available and the competing needs to which they can be allocated. With that in view, as an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (18 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: The duration, commencement dates and other terms of any accommodation arrangement should be set out in the license agreement signed at the beginning of the academic year. Students facing issues should, in the first instance, engage with their accommodation provider to see if an arrangement can be reached. If this is not possible, under the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2019...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (18 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: I have not been made aware of any plans to develop a campus on the north side of Cork city. However, my Department is willing to work collaboratively with higher education institutions 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 in Cork city, including a new Learning...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (18 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 121, 601 and 612 together. The information requested is not available. The Higher Education Authority (HEA) is responsible for collecting, analysing and disseminating student and graduate enrolment data from higher education institutions and the HEA does not collect data for PhD completion rates. The Department has not conducted research on the reason behind...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (18 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: My Department officials and I have engaged and continue to engage on an ongoing basis with the Minister and Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the wider higher education sector and relevant stakeholders on student accommodation issues including within the context of the advancement of the Government's Housing for All policy. I have also engaged over the course of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Qualifications Recognition (18 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: Social Care Programmes are provided across the tertiary system on a full and part time basis in both publicly funded institutes and by two private providers. CORU is an independent Regulator. The Department of Health have advised my Department that to join the register existing professionals and current students will either need to: 1. have undertaken an approved education programme, or 2....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research Funding (18 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a challenge of our time, affecting people, animals and the environment. The concept of One Health has been developed to tackle AMR globally, based on the WHO Global Action Plan on AMR and the European One Health Action Plan against AMR. It advocates a multi-sectoral, whole of society response to AMR. In this context, the Departments of Health and of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (18 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 125 and 128 together. The student accommodation sector is facing many of the same challenges as other parts of the wider housing market, particularly in relation to construction inflation. Accommodation shortages in the private rental market have impacted significantly on students this year. Fundamentally, the challenge is one of supply. As a country, we...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Priorities (18 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: A number of renewable energy programmes are funded under the Human Capital Initiative and Springboard+. They include a Graduate Diploma in Sustainable Energy Systems at DCU, a Postgraduate Diploma in Wind Energy at Dundalk Institute of Technology, a Certificate in Energy Sustainability at South East Technological University; and an MEng in Energy Infrastructure at Technological University of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (18 Oct 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. However, the State does provide support to institutions for Graduate Entry Medicine programmes in order to widen access and assist the students pursuing these programmes. In this context, the fees of EU...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (18 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: Budget 2023 introduced a major package of supports to mitigate against the significant impact that the large increase in energy prices is having. The Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022 (RTA) regulate the landlord-tenant relationship in the private rented sector and set out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants. The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (18 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 130, 133 and 141 together. Under the Department’s Free Fees schemes, the Exchequer provides funding toward the tuition fee costs of eligible Irish and EU undergraduate higher education students who are pursuing approved full-time undergraduate courses of study in an approved higher education institution. All students eligible for the free fees schemes...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (18 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: A key government priority is to ensure that we have world-leading skills to ensure a sustainable and equitable economy now and in the future. The construction sector is no exception. We recognise the changes which have taken place and the response needed to support innovation in construction. We also recognise the need for targeted, collaborative and industry- focused opportunities available...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (18 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: My Department is currently collaborating with other stakeholders on the development of the Innovate for Ireland programme, which we do not expect to be in place before 2023. The stipend determined for that programme will apply to the Innovate for Ireland programme only. My Department is currently preparing a review of PhD provision. This review should conclude early next year, on the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (18 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy is aware, Higher Education Institutions are autonomous institutions and therefore it is a matter for individual institutions to determine the rate of tuition fees for postgraduate academic programmes including psychology. My Department is strongly committed to supporting the health and wellbeing of the population through the provision of graduates with the key competencies...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (18 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: The principal support provided to students by the Department in financial terms is the Student Grant Scheme. Under the 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (18 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: Progressive implementation of measures to address cost as a barrier to education is a key objective for my Department. I also recognise that costs are not limited to tuition fees and students have real cost of living challenges such as fuel, food or accommodation and have specific costs associated with their courses such as books or materials. In Budget 2023, I gave priority to introducing a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Budget 2023 (18 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: In Budget 2023, I gave priority to introducing a significant package of measures that will see students and families directly benefit and will help them tackle the challenges posed by the increased cost of living. In 2022 these measures include: - Higher education students who are eligible for the fees initiative will benefit from a once off reduction in the student contribution rate of...