Results 8,881-8,900 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (15 Sep 2021)

Simon Harris: On 6 September, I announced €38m in capital funding for higher education institutions over the 2021-2022 academic year. This devolved capital grant will facilitate higher institutions in addressing a range of key capital investment priorities. A reduced level of funding has been approved for release to UL at this time. This funding will allow the most urgent capital priorities to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (15 Sep 2021)

Simon Harris: Since the release of the Action Plan to Expand Apprenticeship and Traineeship in Ireland 2016-2020, there has been an increase in the number of apprenticeship registrations year on year since 2016. Due to the unprecedented crisis that Covid-19 caused on our education and training sector, registrations for apprenticeships dropped but recovered strongly in the latter half of the year, with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (15 Sep 2021)

Simon Harris: In recognition of the particular circumstances faced by students this year, 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 Human Capital...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (15 Sep 2021)

Simon Harris: My Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to HEA designated higher education institutions. The HEA allocates this funding to the institutions via the recurrent funding model. The HEA also allocates funding under specific initiatives and programmes including Skills funding under the NTF; access initiatives; capital grants;...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (15 Sep 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: Language Schools (15 Sep 2021)

Simon Harris: On 31 August 2021, the Government published COVID-19: Reframing the Challenge, Continuing Our Recovery and Reconnecting, Ireland’s plan for the next and final phase of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This phase, taking place over the course of September and October, will see the majority of Covid-related restrictions gradually lifted and replaced by guidance, underpinned by a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Oideachas Tríú Leibhéal (15 Sep 2021)

Simon Harris: Is institiúidí féinrialaitheacha iad Ollscoileanna agus Institiúidí Teicneolaíochta agus cinneann siad a gcuid nósanna imeachta féin le haghaidh iontrála. Próiseálann an Lár-Oifig Iontrála (CAO) iarratais le haghaidh cúrsaí fochéime, agus le haghaidh roinnt cúrsaí iarchéime ar a son. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (15 Sep 2021)

Simon Harris: I am very aware of the ongoing shortage of accommodation facing students, and I have been made aware that a number of purpose-built student accommodation developments have been given temporary permission to use a portion of their rooms for short-term visitor and tourist accommodation. The National Student Accommodation Strategy (NSAS) was published in 2017 and is designed to relieve the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions (15 Sep 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 518 and 519 together. In recognition of the particular circumstances faced by students this year, my Department 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 Human Capital Initiative,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions (15 Sep 2021)

Simon Harris: The information requested by the Deputy is not available to my Department. Decisions on admissions are made by the higher education institutions who then instruct the CAO to make offers to successful candidates. Therefore neither I nor my Department have a function in relation to the operation of the CAO, and data on offers for any specific course is held by the CAO and the relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (15 Sep 2021)

Simon Harris: The information requested by the Deputy is not yet available to my Department. The HEA publishes reports on progression rates of first year students in HEA-funded institutions. The most recent publication covers first year progression rates from 2015/16 into 2016/17, and 2016/17 into 2017/18. The analysis covering 2017/18 into 2018/2019 and 2018/2019 into 2019/2020 is currently being drafted...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Legislative Process (15 Sep 2021)

Simon Harris: There has been one Bill prepared by my Department since June 27th 2020. Government approval was received for the General Scheme of a Bill to replace the Higher Education Authority Act 1971 on 4 May 2021. A Regulatory Impact Assessment was undertaken and submitted to Government with the Memorandum for Government seeking approval for the General Scheme. The General Scheme of the Bill is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions (15 Sep 2021)

Simon Harris: The Deputy will be aware that the HEAR and DARE schemes are reduced points mechanisms for entry into higher education. Both schemes are managed and operated by the Irish Universities Association (IUA) on behalf of the higher education institutions who are autonomous bodies. Admissions under the schemes are regulated by the higher education institutions themselves. Each institution determines...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (15 Sep 2021)

Simon Harris: 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, the most marginalised and those with special and additional needs, and assisting people in accessing and progressing through higher and further education and training. There...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (15 Sep 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 525, 526 and 528 together. 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: The plan, which emerged following extensive discussions between university representatives, public health and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (15 Sep 2021)

Simon Harris: Under the Prompt Payment Act 1997, Prompt Payment Interest (hereafter “PPI”) is applied to valid invoices which are not processed within 30 days of receipt. These regulations: - Apply to commercial transactions in both the public and private sectors, - Outline the statutory rate of interest applicable (currently 8% plus the applicable ECB rate), and - Detail the compensation...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Bodies (15 Sep 2021)

Simon Harris: The complex nature of the student grant scheme means that there is a risk that some students receive grant payments for which they are not eligible, including for reasons beyond the direct control of SUSI. To mitigate the risk of overpayments, SUSI implements procedural and system-based controls within its application assessment and grant payment operations. A highly developed quality...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Strategies (9 Sep 2021)

Simon Harris: Since 2016, the Irish Research Council has funded fifty-eight awards in the area of artificial intelligence at a total cost of €6.7 million. These awards were funded under the Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme, the Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Programme, New Foundations, Employment-Based Postgraduate Programme, Enterprise Partnership Scheme,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Tests (9 Sep 2021)

Simon Harris: The Government’s intention is to strengthen the prevention and intervention measures around COVID-19 in response to the changing context including surveillance, track and trace, and potential use of new technology.  My Department recognises the potential role of rapid antigen testing as one part of a package of surveillance and vigilance measures that could also include...

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

Simon Harris: The principal support provided by the Department in financial terms is the Student Grant Scheme. Under the scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students attending 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. The decision on eligibility for a...