Results 7,841-7,860 of 47,419 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (24 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: For the 25 craft apprenticeship programmes, periods of off-the-job training are funded from the National Training Fund (NTF) with payments of the agreed rate made directly to craft apprentices by the education and training boards (ETBs) during this time. Training allowances for apprentices are calculated with reference to gross-wage norms payable in industry for the different trade sectors....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (24 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: The information the Deputy has requested in currently being complied in consultation with the HEA. It will be forwarded directly to the Deputy in the coming days.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (24 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: As part of Budget 2023, I secured a significant cost of living package for third level students, including a once-off €1,000 in support towards the undergraduate student contribution fee for higher education students eligible for my Department’s free fees schemes in the academic year 2022-2023. This once off support relates specifically to the student contribution payable by...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (24 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department's officials have engaged with SOLAS on this issue and have been informed that currently, a SOLAS statutory apprenticeship requires that in certain designated crafts, apprenticeship applicants must pass the Ishihara colour vision test without the use of corrective lenses. SOLAS are continually reviewing the existing statutory apprenticeships and the matter of colour vision...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Qualifications Recognition (24 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department remains committed to removing barriers to third level education. Creating additional capacity in higher education healthcare programmes will provide greater access for students who hold a QQI/FETAC qualification and my Department is working with the higher education sector and the Department of Health in this regard. Healthcare programmes are by their nature complex in delivery....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Equality Issues (24 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for her question on this matter. It is worth noting that as the report is about reasonable accommodations for professional placements, some of its findings and recommendations relate to the work of professional bodies e.g. Teaching Council, Nursing and Midwifery Board, CORU, etc which don’t come under the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (24 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 447 and 448 together. The Higher Education Authority (HEA), is the funding and regulatory body for higher education in Ireland. The HEA has been working through a process to identify opportunities in the higher education system to build capacity in Dentistry, Pharmacy, Medicine, Nursing, and Veterinary. This HEA process is designed to respond swiftly to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (24 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: No decisions have been made in respect of provision or determining whether a new school is to be established at this stage as an expression of interest process is still underway and is being managed by the HEA. An expert panel is to review all applications in the coming week. The HEA will then make recommendations to the Minister on where capacity can be increased across the country in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (24 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: The nationality requirements for the Student Grant Scheme are set out in Section 14 of the Student Support Act 2011 and Regulation 5 of the Student Support Regulations 2022. The candidate's nationality or immigration status in the State determines whether or not she or he meets the nationality requirement outlined in the Act and Regulations, and would be therefore eligible to qualify for a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Business Supports (24 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: The funding allocated to my Department, as set down in the annual Estimates, enables the Department make grant payments to various agencies and bodies that come under the aegis of my Department. These grants are primarily used to fund: - a range of programmes and initiatives in the further and higher education and research sectors, - the salaries of further and higher education staff and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (24 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, a detailed application for posthumous Presidential pardons for Mr. Sylvester Poff and Mr. James Barrett was submitted by the Castleisland District Heritage Inc, the Michael O’Donohue Memorial Project in December 2021. The application has completed an internal review within the Department, and I have approved a proposal to engage an independent expert in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (24 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department, with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation. It will be submitted to me for decision in due course. The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Travel Documents (24 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy may be aware, information in relation to fines levied on airlines for failure to carry out adequate checks on travel documents is maintained by An Garda Síochána. I have sought the information requested from the An Garda Síochána and I will write to the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (24 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: I can advise the Deputy that my Department publishes a breakdown of Community Gardaí by Division, covering the period form 2008 to 30 November 2022, the latest date for which figures are available. These figures may be found on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/f69f7-community-policing/ It is important to note that, to date, the official...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (24 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including responsibility for the recruitment, training and deployment of Garda members. As Minister, I have no role in these matters. Since 2015, the budget for An Garda Síochána has...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (24 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, the Border Management Unit of my Department is responsible for frontline immigration duties at Dublin Airport only. All other ports of entry are the responsibility of the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB). I have sought the information requested from the Garda Commissioner and the number of incidents and number of associated persons with each incident is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (24 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, which includes internal competitions for specialist units within An Garda Síochána. As Minister, I have no direct role in these independent functions. The Deputy’s previous question...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Defibrillators Provision (24 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Unfortunately, the information was not available on time, however, I will contact the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (24 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including all operational policing decisions. As Minister I have no these matters. I am advised by the Commissioner that the Garda Commissioner does not propose to establish a dedicated transport policing unit at this time, as he is of the view that the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (24 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: The visa applications referred to by the Deputy were refused by the Dublin Visa Office. The letter issued to the applicant on 16 January 2023 outlines the reasons for this refusal. An appeals process, which is free of charge, is available and allows applicants, in the event of a refusal of the application at first instance, to address the factors which gave rise to that decision. It is...