Results 8,581-8,600 of 46,267 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (5 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 574 to 578, inclusive, together. The costs incurred by a Higher Education Institution in increasing student places on a particular course can vary depending on a variety factors including the type of course and the individual circumstances of the relevant Higher Education Institution. It is therefore not possible to definitively calculate the costs sought. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Staff (5 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: There are no staff at my Department absent from work on full pay due to suspension or workplace disputes. Contact details for State Bodies within the scope of the Deputy's question are set out in the attached document should the Deputy wish to contact them with this querey. Contact E-Mail Addresses for State Bodies under the Remit of the Department of Further and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (5 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 581 and 589 together. I can confirm my Department has received correspondence from the person(s) detailed and my officials have already been in contact with them regarding continuing their studies in Ireland. Since the start of the war in Ukraine, my Department has received a very large volume of enquiries, from Irish students who were studying in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (5 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: The further development and mainstreaming of apprenticeship through the creation of a single unified apprenticeship system, as articulated in the 'Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025', has a key role to play in meeting Ireland's skills needs in a manner which presents a valued proposition for apprentices and employers alike. There are currently 64 apprenticeship programmes on offer: 25...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (5 Apr 2022)

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: Flexible Work Practices (5 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: Phased return to a physical attendance in the workplace commenced for staff of my department following the easing of Government restrictions on 21 January and staff are currently attending the office for two days per week and working remotely for the remaining days. Following the publication last week of the Blended Working Policy Framework for the Civil Service by the Minister for Public...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (5 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I am happy to report that work on finalising the next National Access Plan (NAP) is at an advanced stage. Colleagues will soon be preparing a memo for Government with the intention of publishing the new Plan in the coming months.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (5 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I am happy to report that work on the development of the new National Access Plan is at an advanced stage. Following an extensive consultation process, over 122 submissions were received and reviewed from a wide range of stakeholders. It has been suggested in some of the submissions received that people in care and care leavers should be included as a priority group in the next Plan. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Contracts (5 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science came into existence in 2020. Prior to the department's establishment the information was managed and published by the Department of Education and is available at www.gov.ie/en/collection/department-of-education-and-skills- expenditure-on-consultancy/. The data in respect of 2021 is being compiled as part of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (31 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I understand that the report referred to by the Deputy in relation to the circumstances of the purchase by University of Limerick (UL) of a property in 2019 has been received and is under review by UL. In relation to the pensions matter referred to by the Deputy, that follows a report of the Comptroller and Auditor General in 2018 which highlighted concerns on the level of professional...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Gender Equality (31 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: The majority of recruitment to my Department is from the Public Appointments Service (PAS) which is the centralised provider of recruitment, assessment and selection services across the Civil Service. All recruitment activities by the PAS are underpinned by their Equality, Inclusion and Diversity strategy 2021-2023 which identifies the key strategic priorities of greater knowledge and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Transport Policy (31 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has a number of initiatives in place to encourage and facilitate employees to use active travel to commute to work. Such initiatives include: Cycle to Work scheme:The Cycle to Work scheme is a tax incentive scheme to encourage staff to cycle to work and is in operation in my Department. Travel pass scheme:The travel pass scheme for public...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (31 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: A number of local authorities throughout the country employ apprentices, with around 50 apprentices currently employed by these bodies. The majority of the apprentices are employed in craft trades such as plumbing, carpentry and joinery, and electrical. A number are also employed in consortia programmes such as accounting technician and cyber security. A key commitment of the ‘Action...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Schemes (31 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I am informed by the HEA that there is extensive engagement between Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) and DEIS schools. In an analysis carried out by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) 98% of post-primary DEIS schools had links or engagement with a HEI. The particular issue raised by the Deputy is not one that I am aware of. Where a DEIS school wishes to establish links or a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Records (31 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: Based on the information supplied, a search of my Department's record holdings has been carried out. No records have been found which match the details provided. If at any stage Ms Rellis or her representatives can provide the Department with further details, the most appropriate avenues for requesting personal information are: - Subject Access Request (SAR): Article 15 of the GDPR gives...

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

Simon Harris: In line with the European Council Decision of 4th March, the Government are applying the rights afforded under the International Protection Act, 2015 to: (a) Ukrainian nationals residing in the Ukraine before 24th February 2022; (b) Stateless persons, and nationals of third countries other than the Ukraine, who benefited from international protection or equivalent national protection in...

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

Simon Harris: As set out in the ‘Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025’, the National Apprenticeship Alliance will have an advisory role in relation to the development of the apprenticeship system and will oversee and sanction the development of new apprenticeships over the coming years. Members of the Alliance will be responsible for a number of actions including representing...

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,...