Results 8,281-8,300 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (25 Jan 2022)

Simon Harris: Tackling sexual violence and harassment in our tertiary education system is and will remain, a key policy focus for me and my Department. Since I have been appointed, we have made some important changes. In August 2020, I wrote to all publicly funded HEIs outlining my commitment to tackling sexual violence and harassment in higher education and requesting a number of actions in this area,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Mobility (25 Jan 2022)

Simon Harris: I have been concerned at the pattern of student flows between Ireland and Northern Ireland, particularly in recent times. While the Memorandum of Understanding on Education Principles under the Common Travel Area has provided a framework to facilitate mobility, through the maintenance of current fee structures and access to student finance, I would like to see the trends in both directions...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (25 Jan 2022)

Simon Harris: Since 2019, around €1m has been allocated by DFHERIS and the HEA to support projects in this area. Funding is provided to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) - Centre of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in 2021 and 2022, for oversight of work in this area, as part of the HEA grant allocation. My Department has also collaborated with the Department of Justice on a dormant accounts...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ministerial Staff (25 Jan 2022)

Simon Harris: In accordance with the terms of the Guidelines for Ministerial Appointments for the 33rdDáil, as published by the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform, I have two civilian drivers to assist me in carrying out my ministerial duties. The Minister of State in my Department also has two civilian drivers. The drivers are in receipt of a salary in line with the relevant pay...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Health and Safety (19 Jan 2022)

Simon Harris: Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013,  craft and general construction workers, persons undertaking on-site security work and persons or classes of persons as may be prescribed by the relevant Minister are required to hold a safety awareness registration card (Safe Pass card).  In March 2020 the Minister for Business, Enterprise and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Tests (19 Jan 2022)

Simon Harris: The intention of Government is to strengthen the prevention and intervention measures around COVID-19 in response to the changing context.  My Department recognises the potential role of rapid antigen testing as one part of a package of surveillance and vigilance measures including self-monitoring and other public health measures. Following public health advice to the sector from the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (19 Jan 2022)

Simon Harris: The Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to HEA designated higher education institutions. The HEA allocates this funding as a block grant to the institutions. As autonomous bodies, the internal disbursement of this funding is a matter for the individual institution. Notwithstanding the above, to assist the Deputy, details...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Schemes (19 Jan 2022)

Simon Harris: The main support available to students is the statutory based Student Grant Scheme where students are studying for the first time or are progressing to study at a higher level e.g. progressing to postgraduate study. To qualify for grant support, a student has to meet various criteria such as means, residency, nationality and progression. The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Schemes (19 Jan 2022)

Simon Harris: During the 2020/2021 academic year, statistics from the Higher Education Authority show that there were 49,658 students studying at all levels in our publicly funded institutions on a part time basis. The costs of extending the SUSI grant scheme to these part time students would depend on an assessment to see if they meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those which relate to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Schemes (19 Jan 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 has been undertaken by Indecon Economic Consultants, under the guidance of a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Reports (19 Jan 2022)

Simon Harris: I welcome the research report on the cost of disability in Ireland. Inclusion is one of the core strategic goals for my Department, and my ambition is to ensure that we provide supports and opportunities for learning to all. This means recognising the needs of vulnerable learners, people who are most marginalised and people with special and additional needs. The cost of disability can be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Science Foundation Ireland (19 Jan 2022)

Simon Harris: The Infrastructure Call supports the research community in building and sustaining the required infrastructural capacity to accomplish high quality, high impact and innovative research in areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics that demonstrably enhance and underpin enterprise competitiveness and societal development in Ireland. Proposals, that are received on foot of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (19 Jan 2022)

Simon Harris: I am taking citizen science to mean a range of different levels of participation, from raising public knowledge of science, encouraging citizens to participate in the scientific process by observing, gathering and processing data, right up to setting scientific agenda and co-designing and implementing science-related policies I should first say that my Department allocates...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (19 Jan 2022)

Simon Harris: The main support provided by my Department in terms of financial supports is the Student Grant Scheme.  The Student Grant Scheme, administered by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), provides grant assistance to students attending an approved full-time course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality,...

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

Simon Harris: Education is an essential service and the Government has agreed that it can continue on-site, in line with Safe Return Plan published last June. However, in light of increased cases, local risk assessment and contingency planning has largely seen exams now moved online. Certain exams where it hasn’t been practical to move on line will continue in-person. In instances where examinations...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (19 Jan 2022)

Simon Harris: Under the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025, the Government has set an overall target of 10,000 new apprenticeship registrations per annum by 2025. Projected total registrations for 2021 were 6,450. The projected total for end 2022 is 7,500. However actual registrations for 2021 have already exceeded the projected 2022 targets. There were 8,607 total apprentice registrations for 2021...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (19 Jan 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1155, 1156 and 1157 together. The advanced healthcare assistant practitioner, international financial services associate, international financial services specialist apprenticeship and recruitment executive apprenticeship are funded through via the Higher Education Authority (HEA) In respect of consortia-led apprenticeship programmes, the HEA allocates funding...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Staff (19 Jan 2022)

Simon Harris: My Department has been informed by the University of Limerick that the issue has arisen due to a misinterpretation of Circular 07/2019 resulting in the application of additional increments to a number of staff, in advance of their due date, across a 12-month period between March 2019 and January 2020. The University became aware of the issue in January 2021 and undertook a detailed review of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (19 Jan 2022)

Simon Harris: SOLAS, the HEA and education and training providers are continuing to work to ensure that craft apprentices are facilitated to complete their apprenticeship in as rapid a manner as is possible. The COVID-related delays in off-the-job training places for craft apprentices is being addressed, underpinned by a Government investment of €37 million (€20M capital investment in 2021...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions (19 Jan 2022)

Simon Harris: I am very conscious of the pressures faced by students who are due to take their Leaving Certificate examinations in 2022, and the concerns they have around access to third level education. In relation to entry to higher education, my Department will be closely monitoring any potential impact that the level of CAO applications or Leaving Certificate grades may have on entry to further and...