Results 7,841-7,860 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Qualifications Recognition (30 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: TheQualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Act 2019 contains legislative provisions to provide for the establishment of a new national Learner Protection Fund and the International Education Mark (IEM). The new Learner Protection Fund will be established and administered by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), the national agency with responsibility for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (30 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the total expenditure each year since 2011 on travel allowances, accommodation allowance and meal allowance for apprentices is currently being collated and will be sent to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capital Expenditure Programme (30 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: On the 14thFebruary last I announced the parameters of an ambitious new phase of capital investment in the further education and training sector. The investment will include: - A FET College of the Future Major Projects Fund, supporting projects to drive reform of the FET sector, including consolidation of provision in high quality facilities, integration of further education and training,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: International Protection (30 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: The Deputy will be aware that as many Ukrainian refugees arriving in Ireland are traumatised, the Government's priority is to provide sanctuary and immediate supports such as food and housing. Therefore, only limited data is gathered by the Irish Visa Authorities, and as such, there is no available data on the number of students arriving in Ireland. However, through engagements between...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: International Protection (30 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will appreciate, the situation in Ukraine has developed very rapidly over the past number of weeks and events are continuing to unfold on a daily basis. In this uncertain environment, officials of my Department are continuing to gather as much information as possible in order to formulate recommendations for appropriate policy responses across a range of areas. Displaced...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: International Protection (30 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: The Deputy will appreciate that finding accommodation for the numbers of people displaced by the war in Ukraine who are expected to come to Ireland over the coming months is challenging and all of Government is working to ensure that the refugees, many of whom are traumatized, have immediate access to basic needs such as food and shelter. The Government response to the crisis in Ukraine...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (30 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy is aware the waiting list for craft apprenticeship training results from the adverse impact of Covid public health restrictions on the operation of the education and training sector. In responding to these restrictions it has been a priority to seek to facilitate, whenever possible, access to onsite teaching and learning for essential skills-based activities such as...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (30 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: Where an apprentice pays an Annual Student Contribution (ASC), the amount of ASC charged is calculated on a pro rata basis, determined by the time which they spend in the institution during any given academic year. In cases where training is delivered in an Education and Training Board education centre, there is no contribution required from the apprentice. The ASC applies to all learners...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Policies (29 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: My Department is working on a range of responses for the people of Ukraine. We are in the process of identifying a central portal for students seeking to engage in third level education here and I hope that will be ready shortly. Any Irish student should apply through the Central Admissions Office.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Schemes (29 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: The main support available to assist postgraduate students with the cost of attending higher education is the Student Grant Scheme. Under the Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to eligible students attending an approved full-time course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (29 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: My Department provides funding for postgraduate research through both Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and the Irish Research Council (IRC). Funding is also provided by other statutory funders and, of course, private funders. Stipends are typically a feature of such funding globally, providing an income to the awardee in recognition of the need to devote themselves on a full-time basis to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (29 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: Further to the lifting of restrictions earlier this year, the opening up of society, including the further education, higher education and research sector, has been ongoing. The Safe Return Plan, which has facilitated the safe return of staff and students to onsite activity since June 2020, supports this wider opening of the sector and continues to provide a comprehensive framework for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (29 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I wish to advise the Deputy that all of the information requested concerning the chairpersons of higher education institutions; the term of office of each; the number of terms served by each; the method of appointment, annual remuneration and expenses for each in each of the past five is not readily available in my Department. Officials will arrange for the compilation of the information...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (29 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science does not hold any retainers with outside organisations. A retainer is defined here as when an advance payment is made to secure the services of an individual or organisation for use when required.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (29 Mar 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. 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). These funds are allocated to Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Consultations (29 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: My Department actively supports Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in the workplace through a number of initiatives for staff to promote the EDI conversation in the Department. This includes initiatives such as Lunch-and-Learn events for staff organised by the Human Resources (HR) Unit on EDI matters, through circulation of resources on an ongoing basis to staff members on EDI issues...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (29 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I am acutely conscious of the difficulties which are experienced by students and their families on low incomes and the critical role of the Student Grant Scheme in supporting access and participation in higher education. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Institutes of Technology (29 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: My Department has not engaged the services of any legal firm for the office of Dundalk Institute of Technology as referred to by the Deputy. My Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to HEA designated higher education institutions, including Dundalk Institute of Technology. The HEA allocates this funding as a block grant to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ukraine War (29 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: Where a person wishes to practice a regulated profession in Ireland, they must engage with the relevant Competent Authority with responsibility for that profession to seek the recognition of their qualifications. In the cases of architects, solicitors and medical professionals, this would be the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI), the Law Society and, subject to the medical...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (29 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: There are no civil servants in my Department on secondment to the private sector.