Results 8,221-8,240 of 45,495 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Staff (8 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: The Deputy will be aware that one of the key objectives of SALI is to strengthen gender diversity at the senior leadership level within HEIs and to encourage the benefits that such diversity can deliver. Championing equality and diversity is one of the key goals of my department. The Senior Academic Leadership Initiative (SALI) is an important initiative aimed at advancing gender equality...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Reviews (8 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: Last Friday (4th Feb), I launched the stakeholder consultation on the next iteration of the International Education, Research and Innovation Strategy. All documentation is available on my Department's website.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (8 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: I am very conscious of the challenges faced by students in relation to student accommodation, and my Department and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage are working closely together to address these issues. This remains very much a priority for my Department. As of December 2021, there are approximately 14,500 PBSA bed-spaces owned by higher education institutions. The IUA...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Schemes (8 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: It is important to say that the Student Grant Scheme does take account of the circumstances of people in receipt of the Working Family Payment. First of all, it is treated as an income disregard. This means that it is not included in the income considered for the student grant. Furthermore, unlike other social protection payments which are paid to individuals, the Working Family Payment is a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Schemes (8 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: The Student Grant Scheme, administered by SUSI, provides grant assistance to students pursuing 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. It assists over 70,000 students annually to access third level education. The Student Grant Scheme contains a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (8 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: On an annual basis my Department provides grant funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) via the B3 subhead. The funds are used to meet the general running expenses of the Higher Education Authority (staff pay, administration, allowance to members on the Authority, maintenanceof the premises etc.). In 2022 the allocation as published in the Revised Estimates is €13,666,000. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (8 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: The Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to HEA designated higher education institutions. Funding is distributed via the Recurrent Grant Allocation Model (RGAM) which utilises a 'two pot' system. In 2016, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) appointed an independent Expert Panel to review the current allocation model for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (8 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware the delivery of projects through Public Private Partnership (PPP) is just one of the methods of delivering capital infrastructure in the Technological Sector. There are a number of ongoing (non PPP) higher education investment programmes with an approved allocation of just over €150m which support the Technological Sector including the: - Apprenticeships...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Schemes (8 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: Under the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to eligible students attending an approved full-time course at an approved institution. Part-time courses are not eligible for support under the scheme. However, part-time students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund (SAF). The SAF provides...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Reviews (8 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: I am happy to give an update on the review of the Student Grant Scheme. This was a very important commitment in the Programme for Government, which will help shape decision-making on how we support students over the years to come. Following a procurement process, the review was undertaken by Indecon Economic Consultants, under the guidance of a steering group which included student and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (8 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: Apprenticeships are employer led demand driven educational and training programmes, which aim to develop the skills of an apprentice in order to meet the needs of industry and the labour market. As apprentices are employees, the demand for and number of apprentices is primarily dictated by the employers in any area or sector. The Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021 – 2025 requires...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (8 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 531, 532, 533, 534, 535, 536, 537, 538, 539 and 541 together. I propose to take PQs 6749, 6750, 6751, 6752, 6753, 6754, 6755, 6756, 6757 and 6759 together. The challenge to ensure a well-qualified labour force to meet the demands of the economy is a fundamental focus for my Department across the entire skills system, including tertiary - composed of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Bullying in Educational Institutions (8 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: Our higher education institutions have a duty of care to their students and staff, and a responsibility to foster a campus culture that is clear in the condemnation of unwanted and unacceptable behaviours, which act as barriers to their safety and their active participation in college life. As part of the Framework for Consent, institutions must report incidents of Bullying, Harassment,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions (3 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 355 to 357, inclusive, together. My Department's primary source of statistics is the HEA's Student Records System (SRS) which records enrolments of students, rather than planned places. First year enrolment data for undergraduate occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language therapy courses is available in the table below. The data is for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (3 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: Play therapy is a form of counselling or psychotherapy in which play is used as a means of helping children to better express and communicate their feelings. Play therapy can be used by a range of education, health and welfare professionals. As such, there are no undergraduate degrees specifically in play therapy. Postgraduate qualifications are available and aimed at individuals who have a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (3 Feb 2022)

Simon Harris: Higher Education Institutions are autonomous bodies within the meaning of the Universities Act 1997, the Institutes of Technology Acts 1992 to 2006, and the Technological Universities Act 2018. As such they are autonomous in relation to their administrative and academic affairs, and the courses offered by any institution, and the level at which they are offered, are a matter for the...