Results 8,601-8,620 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (9 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: Details in relation to the number of enrolments in Law and Legal Studies courses in further education and training (FET) from 2017 - 2021 are attached. Please note this includes data up to the end of October 2021. Data in relation to enrolment figures for 2016 is being collated by SOLAS from each of the 16 Education and Training Boards and will issue to the Deputy shortly. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (9 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: This information is not held by my Department. The majority of our statistics on higher education enrolments are drawn from the Student Records System (SRS) of the HEA, and the basis of entry into higher education is not recorded on the SRS. In 2017/18, the most recent year for which this data is available, 7.3% of students entered higher education on the basis of a further education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (9 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: The decision on eligibility for student grant assistance is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine. If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, she/he may appeal, in the first instance,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (9 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: The information which the Deputy requested is currently being complied and will be forwarded to the Deputy's office directly by my officials in the coming days.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (9 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: The Department for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science is committed to the implementation of the Official Languages Act and provision of Irish-language services, and the Official Languages (Amendment) Bill 2019 is of high importance to Ireland and the life of the language in this country. It will ensure that Irish speakers can interact with the Government and access...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (9 Nov 2021)

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 decision on eligibility for a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (9 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: The WWETB National NZEB Training Centre is the first facility in Europe to offer a suite of trade-specific NZEB courses. On-site retrofit programmes are currently provided in Waterford Wexford ETB, Laois Offaly ETB and Mount Lucas National Construction Training Centre. These training courses introduce participants to the legislative concepts required to meet the standards of NZEB in a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (9 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: As the deputy is aware, Government investment in Higher Education is not specifically allocated against a per student or average cost metric and state investment in the sector is not limited to the recurrent grant funding of institutions. In this regard, Government provides financial support to the higher education sector through direct recurrent grants, and indirectly through a number of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Project Ireland 2040 (9 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: While there are a number of cross-border projects in Project Ireland 2040 falling within my remit, a number of these including the investment in the Magee Campus and the all-island research hubs are currently being developed in partnership with relevant stakeholders in Northern Ireland, and as yet, costs have not yet being finalised. The Deputy will recall that along with the Taoiseach, I...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Technological Universities (4 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy raising the matter and for his tireless work, leadership and advocacy on this matter. I was pleased to join him and colleagues from across the south east on Tuesday when we announced very clearly that the technological university for the south east will open its doors by 1 May. After decades of debate, discussion and at times uncertainty and disagreement, we now have a...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Technological Universities (4 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: In returning to the question of what is a technological university, and I shared some of my views in my initial answer, I would also make the point that the answer must also partially reside in the region, because while Dublin, the Government or the Oireachtas can grant technological university status and is happy to do so, and we have a responsibility in capital funding, policies and efforts...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (4 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: SUSI does not require Rent-a-Room applicants to be registered with the RTB. However, it does seek one of the documents listed below when an applicant is seeking to be classified as an independent applicant. The documentation accepted as evidence of living independently is any of the following; - A letter confirming that the address is registered with Residential Tenancies Board (RTB); - A...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Cross-Border Co-operation (4 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: While there are a number of cross-border projects in Project Ireland 2040 falling within my remit, a number of these including the investment in the Magee Campus and the all-island research hubs are currently being developed in partnership with relevant stakeholders in Northern Ireland, and as yet, costs have not yet being finalised. The Deputy will recall that along with the Taoiseach, I...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Cross-Border Co-operation (4 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: Funding for the following projects were made in 2021. Centre for Cross Border Studies (CCBS) - €180,000 Standing Conference on Teacher Education North/ South (SCoTENS) €30,000 Universities Ireland - €30,000 Washington Ireland Programme - $106,000 George Mitchell Scholarship Programme - $407,167 While the Revised Estimates Volume will be published later this month, it...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Research and Development (3 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: I thank the Senator for inviting me to the Chamber. I will begin as he did by remarking on the importance of yesterday's announcement of a technological university for the south east. I thank the Senator for his support and leadership on this matter. As chair of the cross-party group of Oireachtas Members from the south east, he convened Members from all political persuasions a number of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Research and Development (3 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: I am straddling a line between wanting to be transparent and helpful and respecting my constitutional obligations. Let me say this - I am recognising on the floor of the Seanad that the structures that are in place need to evolve and change. I am certainly not saying that the status quoshould continue. There needs to be an evolution of the structures. The world is a different place than it...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Technological Universities (3 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: I thank Senator Cummins for his work, leadership and dedication in delivering this project, along with his colleagues across the south east. I know this is an issue that he has personally prioritised and given a lot of time to. I hate to think of the conversation we would be having had we not got to this point, considering the degree to which the Senator banged on my door to ensure...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Technological Universities (3 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: My comments on the HQ are as they are but the bigger win and the bigger prize here for Waterford and the south east is the establishment of a technological university, the status that will bring to the region, the opportunities that will provide for increasing foreign direct investment, capital investment, research funding, international recognition and becoming a catalyst in a region that...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Technological Universities (3 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: I thank the Acting Chairperson.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Language (3 Nov 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 135 to 137, inclusive, together. The Department for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science is committed to the implementation of the Official Languages Act and provision of Irish-language services, and the Official Languages (Amendment) Bill 2019 is of high importance to Ireland and the life of the language in this country. It will...