Results 9,141-9,160 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

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: Grant Payments (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Harris: The principal support provided by the 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 “Progress Review of the National Access Plan and Priorities to 2021”was published in December 2018. The Progress Review noted rates of participation by mature students had declined since the commencement of National Plan for Equity of Access 2015-2021. Participation rates for mature students fell from 13% to 9% for full-time students, and by 3% for full and part-time...

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

Simon Harris: The development of a country’s talent entails lifelong investment and commitment on the part of both the individual and the State. From pre-primary through to further and higher education and throughout an individual’s career, skills and knowledge need to be continuously enhanced if individuals, employers and countries are to realise their potential. The centrality of the higher...

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

Simon Harris: Universities and Institutes of Technology are autonomous and determine their own procedures for admission. The CAO process applications for undergraduate, and some postgraduate, courses on their behalf. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 47, 56 and 78 together. The Government has committed to planning for a significant increase in onsite attendance in the tertiary education sector in the next academic year. Last month I published A Safe Return: Plan for a safe return to on-site Further and Higher Education and Research in 2021/22. The Safe Return Plan can be accessed here:...

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

Simon Harris: The principal support provided by the 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 Admissions (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Harris: Universities and Institutes of Technology are autonomous and determine their own procedures for admission. The CAO process applications for undergraduate, and some postgraduate, courses on their behalf. Decisions on admissions, including in relation to deferrals, are made by the higher education institutions who then instruct the CAO to make offers to successful candidates. Therefore...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Harris: Legislation was brought in in 2019 to ensure that students would have the same affordability measures as tenants within Rent Pressure Zones. I am aware of the increases in accommodation fees in some Higher Education Institutions for the 2021 academic year and I am disappointed that they have sought to increase prices for students during the midst of a public health and an economic crisis. ...

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

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 53 and 77 together. On 30 April 2021, I received an application under section 29 of the Technological Universities Act 2018 from the Institute of Technology Carlow and Waterford Institute of Technology. The application is seeking an order under section 36 of the Act for the applicant institutes to be dissolved and the establishment of a technological...

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 scheme is demand led and as...

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

Simon Harris: Following my granting on 5 May 2021 of their application for TU status under the Technological Universities Act 2018, the dissolution of Athlone and Limerick Institutes of Technology required the approval by both Houses of the Oireachtas of a draft order appointing the date of establishment of the new Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest. The date in prospect is 1...

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

Simon Harris: In May 2021 my Department established a Working Group to achieve the Government commitment to planning for a significant increase in onsite attendance in the tertiary education sector in the next academic year. The existing Covid-19 Tertiary Education Sector steering group, which contains representatives from across the further and higher education sector, was convened to act as a...

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

Simon Harris: Inclusion is one of the core strategic goals for my Department. 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. A range of supports and measures are in place for learners with disabilities; some of these supports are targeted...

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

Simon Harris: The principal support provided by the 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: Further and Higher Education (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Harris: I wish to advise the Deputy that provision of further education and training at Plunkett College of Further Education (Plunkett CFE) is governed by City of Dublin ETB (CDETB). The ETB expect to support in the region of 200 learners in Plunkett CFE in the 2021/2022 academic year. Through PLC provision a range of course options will be provided including Accounting Technician, Business...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Comhfhreagras Rannach (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Harris: De bharr neamairt riaracháin i mo Roinn, cuireadh an freagra ar an gCeist Pharlaiminte a ndearna an Teachta tagairt dó, ar ais as Béarla seachas as Gaeilge. Tuigim na hoibleagáidí atá orm faoi Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla 2003 freagra a thabhairt as Gaeilge ar cheisteanna a chuirtear isteach as Gaeilge. Is oth liom nár tharla sé sin an uair seo....

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

Simon Harris: My key priority and that of my Department in terms of advancing higher education integration in the south-east region is the progression by the publicly funded Institutes of Technology that make up the TUSEI consortium of their proposals for a technological university to serve all parts of the region. In this context I received an application under section 29 of the Technological...

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

Simon Harris: I have not been made aware of any plans by NUI to progress a new campus on the northside of Cork city. However, my Department is willing to work collaboratively with higher education institutions on the development of capital projects in line with their established masterplans. Higher education building projects in Cork supported by my Department include the planned new Learning Resource...