Results 7,521-7,540 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 86: In page 33, line 33, to delete “of not less that” and substitute “of not less than”.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 87: In page 33, between lines 34 and 35, to insert the following: “(2) An tÚdarás shall, for the purposes of preparing or amending a performance framework, consult with— (a) representatives of students of designated institutions of higher education, (b) designated institutions of higher education or their representative bodies, and (c) such...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 88: In page 34, line 11, after “section 33,” to insert the following: “taking account of the diversity of functions, objects and priorities of different higher education providers,”. Amendment No. 88 recognises the diversity of functions, objects and priorities of different higher education providers in preparing the performance...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 91: In page 34, line 15, after “review” to insert “and with the approval of the Minister”. This amendment simply adds "the approval of the Minister" in respect of amending the performance framework, so we will need the Minister's approval to amend the framework. It is a technical amendment to align with amendment No. 85.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputies. I fully understand what they want to achieve. I have engaged with the sector on this. I wish to flag at this stage that I propose to review the provision with a view to introducing a suitable amendment on Report Stage which will reflect the policy intent of very close co-operation and collaboration between the HEA and designated institutes of higher education...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 96: In page 35, between lines 36 and 37, to insert the following: “(3) An tÚdarás shall, for the purposes of preparing and establishing a funding framework, consult with bodies seeking funding or their representative bodies.”. I have run through amendment No. 96 with drafters, the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel and the likes. I think...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: Deputy Ó Cathasaigh, in fairness, has done a lot of work on this, but other Deputies have also raised the issue of climate action, sustainability and how we endeavour to strengthen the Bill. I said at the previous session of Committee Stage of the Bill that, under this legislation, the HEA will be able to issue guidelines, codes and policies in respect of climate action. I think we...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I do not want to go back to the amendments but I acknowledged Deputy Ó Cathasaigh's work on the amendments he put forward and my intention to provide additional clarity and assurance with guidelines, and what that might look like, in advance of Report Stage. I also indicated that I will endeavour to come back with greater definitions around sustainability. I will put on the record that...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy. What we are endeavouring to do in this section is ensure the chief executive officer of the HEA can deal with a number of matters as they arise. There is standard provision in legislation relating to what are called "other conditions". I accept "other conditions" could perhaps be viewed as a catch-all, although it is not a legal term. It can be a standard provision. I...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I again thank Deputy Ó Cathasaigh for this series of amendments, which we discussed the previous day and, indeed, that come later. As I indicated earlier in the meeting with Deputy Ó Cathasaigh, my response is that we are looking to see how we can, and I think it is the wish of the committee, further strengthen definitions in this important area of climate action. I am also...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 110: In page 38, line 1, to delete “a review” and substitute “an assessment”.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (27 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to this issue has been requested from SOLAS. Officials in my department are engaging with SOLAS to confirm the position and the details will be communicated to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (27 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to this issue has been requested from SOLAS. Officials in my department are engaging with SOLAS to confirm the position and the details will be communicated to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (27 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to this issue has been requested from SOLAS. Officials in my Department are engaging with SOLAS to confirm the position and the details will be communicated to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (27 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: The number of part-time students enrolled in HEA-funded institutions available is shown in the table below. This data is taken from the HEA's student records system (SRS), and shows the three most recent years available.  - 2018/19  2019/20  2020/21  Undergraduate  25,555 27,392 27,204 ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (27 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, fee levels vary across the institutions, disciplines and mode of delivery. Part time and postgraduate tuition fees are payable directly to Higher Education Institutions.   Higher Education Institutions are autonomous bodies and are responsible for their own day-to-day management and operational affairs, including the management of academic affairs....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capital Expenditure Programme (27 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: The revised National Development Plan (NDP) published in October 2021 provided clarity on Departmental capital ceilings for the period 2022 – 2025. The table below sets out the 2022 capital ceilings. It should be noted that in addition to the €256.5m set out, a further €0.5m and €1m have been allocated to SOLAS and the HEA respectively to meet agency capital...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (27 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: The Student Grant Scheme, administered by SUSI, provides grant assistance 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 for the centralised student grant awarding authority...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (27 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: The Student Grant Scheme, administered by SUSI, provides grant assistance 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. In assessing an application for the 2022/23 academic year, SUSI will have regard to the following qualifying...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (27 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I understand that the Deputy has clarified with my officials that the Deputy wishes to know the estimated cost of extending the student contribution grant to those undergraduate students currently studying in the four approved Institutions in the North of Ireland. Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to eligible students attending an approved course in...