Results 7,661-7,680 of 45,495 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Data Protection (26 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: My Department occupies properties providing by the Property Management Services in the Office of Public Works, which acts as an agent for all Government Departments. None is equipped with facial recognition devices. The information in respect of the state bodies, within the scope of the Deputy’s question, is not held by my Department.  Contact details for these bodies are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Staff (26 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1168 and 1179 together. My Department had no involvement in the matter raised by the Deputy. Higher education institutions are academically independent and regulate their own academic affairs and administrative processes. The Code of Governance for Irish Universities states that ‘The role of the governing authority is governed in particular by Section...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (26 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: The funding allocated to the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, as set down in the annual Estimates, is used to meet costs associated with the provision of further and higher education, labour market initiatives including skills, and Irish research and development.  The allocation is provided both directly and through my Department’s...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (26 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: The Fottrell Report, published in 2006, continues to provide the basis on which the level of provision in medical schools is determined. It specified that an intake of between 700 and 740 EU students per annum was required to move towards national self-sufficiency. This target marked a more than doubling of the number of EU students who were accepted in to medical schools at the time the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (26 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I recognise that cost can be major factor for many people in accessing higher education, and I am committed to delivering on the Programme for Government’s commitments regarding SUSI.  In addition to commissioning a major review of the scheme, I have also prioritised expansion and reform of the scheme in budgetary allocations. I commissioned a major review of the Student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (26 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: There are no officials from my Department on secondment to organisations in the wider public, private or semi-private sectors whose costs are being met from the Department’s payroll budget. Please note that for administrative purposes, officials on secondment to outside organisations may continue to be paid through the Department’s payroll arrangements with the National Shared...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (26 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: Officials in my Department are engaging with SOLAS to confirm the exact position in relation to this matter. Further details will be communicated to the Deputy as soon as possible. 

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (26 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: An hourly rate of €12.30, based on a 37 hour standard net working week, equates to an annual salary of €23,747.  I can confirm that there are no staff currently employed in my Department, or in bodies under the aegis of my Department, earning less than this suggested living wage.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Policies (26 Apr 2022)

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. To satisfy the terms and conditions of the Student Grant Scheme in relation to progression, a student must be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Qualifications Recognition (26 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: My Department is committed to providing every support possible for Ukrainian citizens who are seeking the recognition of their qualifications in Ireland.         0;          0;          0;          0; ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (26 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I am commited to the progressive implementation of measures to address costs as a barrier to education, within the overall context of Government policy towards costs of living and other relevant strategies including those related to access and participation in education.    It is important to highlight the very substantial financial support, currently well in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (26 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: Under the terms of the “Guidelines for Ministerial Appointments to the 33rdDáil” the salary scale for Special Adviser to a Minister is the same as the Civil Service Principal Officer pay scale whereas the pay scale for Special Adviser to a Minister of State is equivalent to the Assistant Principal Officer scale. In the event an appointee is a retired Civil Servant pension...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (26 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: The Department facilitates secondments from organisations in the public service/civil service, as required, to meet specific business requirements. In addition, this Department facilitates secondments of officials to other organisations, often in the further and higher education sector, as a result of their particular skillsets, to meet specific business needs and/or to facilitate career...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (26 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) was established in July 2020. Since its inception, the Department has been largely operating on a hybrid working basis. It is the intention of DFHERIS to facilitate internships going forward and this will be set out in the context of a HR Strategy later this year. Given working arrangements in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (26 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: Craft apprenticeships account for 25 of the 64 existing available apprenticeship Programs.  Given the practical nature of off-the-job training for craft apprentices, the COVID-related shutdown of on-site learning activity in 2020 and 2021, combined with classes running at approximately 50% capacity to allow for social distancing measures, had a significant impact on the...