Results 9,121-9,140 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Harris: The appointment of the TUSEI consortium’s Programme Executive Director was made by the TUSEI consortium comprising IT Carlow and Wateford IT in the context of accelerating their proposals to submit an application seeking TU designation under the prescribed legislative process set out in the Technological Universities Act 2018. Following engagement between the TUSEI consortium and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Harris: I am acutely conscious of the difficulties which are experienced by students and their families on low incomes and the critical role of the Student Grant Scheme in supporting access and participation in higher education. The eligibility criteria for student grants are reviewed annually by my Department and approved by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. All proposals made...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Harris: Firstly, I would like to assure the Deputy that equity of participation in further and higher education continues to be a national priority for the Government and for my Department. I am very pleased to see that a progress review of the National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education which was published in December 2018 showed considerable progress amongst those with disabilities. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Harris: I am working to ensure that we do everything we can to support students who wish to study outside the State. Officials in my Department have been working closely on this matter with their colleagues in the Department of Education and the Department of Foreign Affairs, and liaising with administrations in the countries of interest to Irish students. This work has been informed by the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Harris: The CUA consortium's application seeking TU designation under the Technological Universities Act 2018 was submitted to me on 21st May. I then appointed the advisory panel to assess it on 2 July 2021. The maximum prescribed timeframes for the relevant assessment and decision making procedures are set out in sections 31 - 34 of the 2018 Act. In line with all other applications assessed to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Harris: My Department, the HEA and the higher education institutions are committed to supporting the provision of graduates for the health service through undergraduate and postgraduate provision. In this regard, my Department continues to engage with the Department of Health in relation to health workforce planning to ensure the effective delivery of skilled personnel into the future. In 2020,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Harris: Prior to the current National Development Plan (NDP), there was no dedicated capital investment envelope for the further education and training (FET) sector. The most urgent issues were addressed as part of the Department of Education’s school building programme (plus a small equipment allocation) but there was little opportunity to take a strategic or long-term approach to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Harris: The student contribution applies to all students on an annual basis, who are eligible under the 'free fees' scheme. The current rate is €3,000 per annum. It is important to recognise that there has been no increase in the Student contribution since 2014/15 and currently 60,000 students have all or part of the student contribution paid on their behalf by the State via the Student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Harris: Higher education institutions (HEIs) are autonomous bodies established under statute and accordingly the sourcing of private funding and any protocols to govern the receipt of philanthropy is a matter to be managed appropriately at institutional level. As the Deputy will be aware, HEIs are required to comply with all relevant Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) guidelines...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Harris: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for SUSI to determine. For the 2021/22 academic year, student grant applications will be assessed based on gross income from all sources for the reference period 1st January 2020 to 31st December 2020. The Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Act 2020 establishes the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Adult Education Provision (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 51 together. Despite a generally well-educated workforce and technology-driven economy and society, there are many people in Ireland who lack the reading, writing, numeracy, communication and digital skills required to perform essential daily tasks to fully participate in society. To address this, and as provided for in the Programme for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Institutes of Technology (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Harris: The Ice Dome was purchased by Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) as part of a wider sports complex in 2014. The major part of this complex has been refurbished and is fully in use as DkIT Sports, providing an essential facility for the student body. DkIT has briefed the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on its current plans with regard to the Ice Dome facility and the HEA is, in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Harris: The principal support provided by my Department in financial terms is the Student Grant Scheme. Under the terms of 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Harris: The Higher Education Authority (HEA), acting as the National Agency for the Erasmus+ Higher Education programme in Ireland, has advised that it has received applications from 28 higher education institutions for funding of outbound Erasmus mobilities in Europe for the 2021/22 programme year. The total demand amounts to approximately 7,000 mobilities. Léargas, the National Agency for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Cúrsaí Gaeilge (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Harris: Níl Scéim Ghinearálta Bille maidir leis an Acht an Údaráis um Ard-Oideachas a athchóiriú ag fáil réidh le ról an Údaráis um Ardoideachais (HEA) ó thaobh na Gaeilge. Foráiltear in Alt 4 d’Acht an Údaráis um Ard-Oideachas, 1971 -ag comhlíonadh a fheidhmeanna don Údarás coimeádfaidh sé...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Harris: I am very conscious of the many challenges faced by students this year, including in relation to student accommodation.The eligibility criteria for student grants are reviewed annually by the Department and approved by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. All proposals made in relation to higher education expenditure, including student grants, are considered in the context of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Harris: Under the terms of the Student Grant 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. To satisfy the terms and conditions of the Student Grant Scheme in relation to progression, a student must be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 38, 43 and 54 together. The principal support provided by the Department in financial terms is the Student Grant Scheme administered by SUSI. Under the terms of 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,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Institutes of Technology (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Harris: The JJB sports complex, including the Ice Dome, was purchased by Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) in 2014. The major part of the complex has been refurbished and is fully in use as DkIT Sports, providing an essential facility for the student body. No specific Exchequer capital grant was provided by my Department or the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for the acquisition. Under...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Harris: My Department's Statement of Strategy, which I published on 8 March last, contains a commitment to put in place a sustainable funding model for the higher education. This is essential in ensuring that our higher education institutions can effectively meet high standards of quality and performance, and achieve critical outcomes for our economy and society. The report referred to in...