Results 9,081-9,100 of 47,419 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (14 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: In February of this year, I was pleased to announce the parameters of an ambitious new phase of capital investment in the further and higher education sectors. The four new programmes with a combined funding envelope of €430 million to 2025 will be funded within the overall capital ceilings for my Department as set out in the revised National Development Plan.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Interest Rates (14 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1223 and 1224 together. The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science - Vote 45 - has not incurred negative interest since its formation in 2020. The negative interest outlined in the table below relates to the National Training Fund which was transferred to my Department from the Department of Education in October 2020 as...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (14 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science was established in 2020. The current Secretary General has been in place since the establishment of the Department and hence there are no former Secretary Generals seconded from my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Costs (14 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1226, 1227 and 1229 to 1235, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (14 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1240 and 1241 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (14 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: The main support available to students is the statutory based Student Grant Scheme administered by SUSI. To qualify for grant support, a student has to meet various criteria such as means, residency, nationality and progression. Approved undergraduate courses for the Student Grant Scheme 2022 are prescribed in the Student Support Regulations 2022 and in the Student Support Act 2011. SUSI...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (14 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: The main support available to students is the statutory based Student Grant Scheme administered by SUSI. To qualify for grant support, a student has to meet various criteria such as means, residency, nationality and progression. Approved undergraduate courses for the Student Grant Scheme 2022 are prescribed in the Student Support Regulations 2022 and in the Student Support Act 2011. SUSI...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (14 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: A key objective of the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 is to ensure the apprenticeship system will increase its contribution to meeting Ireland’s skills and human capital requirements by delivering a target of 10,000 apprenticeship registrations per annum by 2025. There are currently 65 apprenticeship programmes, 25 craft programmes and 40 programmes introduced since 2016....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Reform (14 Jun 2022)

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 eligibility criteria for student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Costs (14 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1246, 1248, 1249, 1250, 1251, 1252, 1253, 1254, 1255, 1256, 1257, 1258 and 1259 together. The costs incurred by a Higher Education Institution in increasing student places on a particular course can vary depending on a variety of factors including the type of course and the individual circumstances of the relevant Higher Education Institution. It is therefore...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Costs (14 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: 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. My Department acknowledges that the current funding levels are not sustainable for the provision of medical education. Extensive...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Costs (14 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: My Department allocates funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to designated HEIs. The HEA provides block grant funding to the Higher Education Sector, from within the allocation available, through the Recurrent Grant Allocation Model (RGAM) which is driven by overall student numbers. The grant is allocated as a block grant and the internal allocation is a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Unions (14 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: No meeting with the organisation in question is currently planned. My Department has had frequent engagement with this Union since its formation in 2020. This Union has recently sent my Department a range of correspondence on matters pertaining students in the English Language Education (ELE) sector. My Department is currently in the process of reviewing this material and will be providing a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (14 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I am very aware of the impact the cost of living has on students and the challenges students are facing. As part of Budget 2022, I secured an additional €15m to enhance the existing financial supports under the Student Grant Scheme for implementation in 2022. In this regard, I have already prioritised improvements to the income thresholds and student grant rates for the 2022/23...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Schemes (14 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: The Springboard+ initiative is managed by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on behalf of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. Each applicant applying for a Springboard+ or Human Capital Initiative Pillar 1 courses must provide supporting documents to prove they meet the programmes eligibility criteria, including nationality. There are several...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (14 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I am very aware of the pressure felt by students applying to enter higher education and I am taking action to relieve these pressures. While Leaving Certificate grades don’t impact the number of higher education places in and of themselves, high grades drive up CAO points requirements and I know that this can make students feel under pressure. This year’s CAO...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (14 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for his question on this important matter. Our higher education institutions have a duty of care to their students and staff, and a responsibility 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. Significant progress has been made...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (14 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: Over the past two years, an additional €6 million has been provided to higher education institutions to support student mental health and wellbeing. HEIs were requested to allocate these additional funds towards student-facing services such as: - Recruitment of additional Student Counsellors; - Recruitment of additional Assistant Psychologists; - Head of service posts for those HEIs...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ukraine War (14 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I am determined that those fleeing the war will receive comprehensive and compassionate support to allow them to continue their education here and my officials have been working proactively with the higher education sector to facilitate this. I must acknowledge the generosity of those working in the sector, who are assisting my Department to identify and respond to the needs of displaced...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (14 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, officials of my Department have been engaged with higher education institutions in Northern Ireland to facilitate continue access participation in the Erasmus+ programme on the basis of their temporary registration at Irish higher education institutions. It was planned to put the scheme in place from September 2022, but my Department was advised by the...