Results 8,781-8,800 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: The purpose of the Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD) is to assist further and higher education institutions in ensuring students with disabilities have the necessary assistance and equipment to enable them access, fully participate in and successfully complete their chosen course of study. The FSD is one of the main funding sources supporting participation by students with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Adult Education Provision (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 65, 72 and 163 together. I was delighted to launch the Adult Literacy for Life Strategy on International Literacy Day, 8th September. This is a 10 year adult literacy, numeracy and digital literacy strategy which takes a whole of Government action orientated approach. It is underpinned by one simple vision, to create an Ireland where every adult has the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: The Student Grant Scheme is a critical financial support for students participating in further and higher education. As in any statutory scheme, a core principle of the scheme is that there is consistency of approach and an equitable treatment for applicants as part of the means assessment process. All applications are assessed nationally with reference to the terms and conditions of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: In recognition of the particular circumstances faced by leaving certificate students in 2021, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science worked with the HEA and the Higher Education Institutions to identify where additional places could be provided in the higher education system. As a result of this, together with the additional places created under the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (13 Oct 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 student grant is an absolutely...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: Under the Department’s Free Fees Initiative (FFI), the Exchequer provides funding toward the tuition fee costs of eligible undergraduate higher education students. All students eligible for the scheme receive state support whereby the Exchequer pays the cost of tuition fees exclusive of the student contribution. The student contribution applies annually to all FFI eligible students...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Staff (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: Third-level institutions have autonomy in relation to human resource policies, subject to the requirement to comply with employment legislation. Employers in the higher education sector are also required to operate in accordance with the provisions of national industrial relations agreements and any individuals who have issues of concern have a variety of dispute resolution options open to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: It is a priority for my Department to support higher education institutions (HEIs) in their critical role as drivers of social and economic development in their regions. Funding for capital works is generally distributed through the HEA and SOLAS to higher education institutions and ETBs in the form of project-specific grants or devolved grant type funding. Specific projects which are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board (MSLETB) is currently working with SOLAS on the establishment of Mayo College of Further Education and Training. Included in this is a proposal from the ETB to redevelop the facilities and buildings at the address referred to by the Deputy. SOLAS, in conjunction with my Department, is currently in the process of developing a capital...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: Significant additional Funding has been made available to support students under recent budgets and through the Return to Education Packages for 2020 and 2021. The principal support provided by my Department in financial terms is the Student Grant Scheme. The budgetary provision for the Student Grant Scheme in 2021 is €364.5m. The Student Grant Scheme provides grant assistance to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: The functions of a technological university (TU) are set out in section 9 of the Technological Universities Act 2018. It is a matter for the governing body of the new Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest as an autonomous higher education institution as to how specifically the TU fulfils those functions including the roles played by or at particular campuses of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research and Development (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: The development of a new national strategy for research and innovation (R&I) is a key commitment in the Government’s Economic Recovery Plan 2021, which sets out the “dual ambition of placing research, development and innovation at the heart of addressing Ireland’s economic and societal challenges, and building capacity and capability across the research and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: My Department is committed to playing its part in moving towards a more sustainable economy and future and to developing the pipeline of green skills to support future proofing. The National Recovery and Resilience Plan will provide significant investment to advance the green transition. The SOLAS Green Skills Action programme will provide training at further education level to address...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: I’m acutely aware of the challenges facing students in securing accommodation this year, and my Department and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage recognises this as a critical issue and are working closely together to address these issues. Approximately 40% of students who rent accommodation do so in purpose built student accommodation, with 60% in the wider...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: I’m acutely aware of the challenges facing students in securing accommodation this year, and my Department and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage recognises this as a critical issue and are working closely together to address these issues. Approximately 40% of students who rent accommodation do so in purpose built student accommodation, with 60% in the wider...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: In line with the Programme for Government commitment to address the gap in postgraduate grants, from September 2021 I increased the postgraduate fee grant from €2,000 to €3,500. This increase will allay some of the costs for postgraduate study and will give greater certainty for students in terms of supports. In addition, the fee grant income threshold increased from...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: Following Government approval, I published A Safe Return: Plan for a safe return to on-site Further and Higher Education and Research in 2021/22 on June 15th. The Safe Return Plan can be accessed at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/bcd91-a-safe-return-to-on-site-fur ther-and-higher-education-and-research/. The plan, which is predicated on the sector’s full commitment to a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Institutes of Technology (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will appreciate, the detail of any site acquisition process must remain commercially sensitive. However, I have been clear in my commitment to expanding the imprint of higher education across the south east region. This includes a larger footprint for higher education in Waterford and the acquisition of a site to accommodate a purpose-built campus in Wexford. I can...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: The Department of Justice and Equality adjudicates on a person's entitlement to remain in the State and on the stamp that is awarded where permission to remain is sanctioned. The granting of certain permissions to reside in the State conveys certain rights as provided for in legislation, including access to education in line with the rights of an Irish citizen. However some permissions do not...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Harris: Our higher education institutions have a responsibility to their students and staff 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. In April 2019 the Framework for Consent in Higher Education Institutions:“Safe, Respectful, Supportive and Positive...