Results 9,241-9,260 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (24 Jun 2021)

Simon Harris: The Deputy will be aware that there are various income thresholds used depending on the type of grant, family size etc. While SUSI has statistics on those students who have applied for grant support and can estimate with some degree of certainty, what impact changes to the thresholds might have for those students on lower income levels, the accuracy of its estimates become less reliable at...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (24 Jun 2021)

Simon Harris: The Deputy will be aware that there are various income thresholds used depending on the type of grant, family size etc. While SUSI has statistics on those students who have applied for grant support and can estimate with some degree of certainty, what impact changes to the thresholds might have for those students on lower income levels, the accuracy of its estimates become less reliable at...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (24 Jun 2021)

Simon Harris: The Deputy will be aware that there are various income thresholds used depending on the type of grant, family size etc. While SUSI has statistics on those students who have applied for grant support and can estimate with some degree of certainty, what impact changes to the thresholds might have for those students on lower income levels, the accuracy of its estimates become less reliable at...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (24 Jun 2021)

Simon Harris: The estimated cost of increasing the maintenance grant by 10% is in the region of €16 Million. The Programme for Government contains commitments to, amongst other things, review SUSI eligibility criteria, adjacency rates and postgraduate grant supports. The review of the Student Grant Scheme is underway with over 250 submissions received via the public...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (24 Jun 2021)

Simon Harris: Under my Department’s free fees schemes, the Exchequer provides funding toward the tuition fee costs of eligible full-time undergraduate students with students paying the student contribution fee. Combined maximum of €6,270.  It is important to note in relation to this issue that under the Free Fees Schemes the Exchequer currently makes a very...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (24 Jun 2021)

Simon Harris: The was a total of 74,755  SUSI grant recipients for the 2020/21 academic year.  The number of recipients under each income bracket as requested by the Deputy is in the table attached. The Programme for Government contains commitments to, amongst other things, review SUSI eligibility criteria, adjacency rates and postgraduate grant supports. The review of the Student Grant Scheme is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (24 Jun 2021)

Simon Harris: With regard to building, equipment and ICT investment, the total capital investment in the higher education sector since 2016 has been €244m.  This refers to funding provided by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science since its establishment in 2020 and, prior to that, by the Department of Education and Skills.  For clarity, the above...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (24 Jun 2021)

Simon Harris: My Department has allocated €17m to support the provision of 3,486sqm of higher education facilities at the National Children’s Hospital.  €10m of the funding allocated was drawn down by the Department of Health in 2019.  The balance of funding is expected to be drawn down across 2021 and 2022. This allocation will support provision of facilities for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (24 Jun 2021)

Simon Harris: Prior to the current National Development Plan (NDP), there was no dedicated capital investment envelope for the FET sector.  The current NDP marked a turning point. For the first time, a dedicated capital envelope was established for the FET sector.  Available funding has increased from €5.5m in 2018 to €17.5m in 2020 to a planned investment of €32.5m in 2021....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Oideachas trí Ghaeilge (24 Jun 2021)

Simon Harris: Leagtar amach i mBeartas Oideachais na Gaeltachta go bhfuil raon beart le breithniú chun daltaí i scoileanna Gaeltachta agus i scoileanna trí mheán na Gaeilge a spreagadh chun dul i ngleic le sonraíocht curaclaim T1 don Ghaeilge sa tsraith shinsearach. Féadfaidh an méid a leanas a bheith san áireamh orthu sin - sparánachtaí tríú...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (24 Jun 2021)

Simon Harris: In line with the Universities Act, 1997, third-level institutions have autonomy in relation to human resource policies, subject to compliance with Government policy in respect of employment numbers and pay policy.  Employers in the higher education sector are also required to operate in accordance with the provisions of national industrial relations agreements. Based...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Language Schools (24 Jun 2021)

Simon Harris: In March 2020, my Department established a distinct Working Group with key stakeholders for the English Language Education (ELE) sector to manage the significant impact of the pandemic on ELE. This Working Group is comprised of the sectoral representatives of students, staff and providers alongside representatives of relevant Government Departments such as the Department of Justice, the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Institutes of Technology (23 Jun 2021)

Simon Harris: My Department did not provide specific financial support for the purchase of the Ice Dome at Dundalk Institute of Technology.  Dundalk Institute of Technology purchased the Ice Dome as part of a wider sports complex in 2014.  The remainder of the sports complex purchased at that time has been refurbished and is currently in use as a fitness centre with indoor football pitches,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Labour Activation Measures (23 Jun 2021)

Simon Harris: Springboard+ complements the core State-funded education and training system and provides free or 90% funded upskilling and reskilling higher education opportunities in areas of identified skills need. The initiative’s primary target group when it was established was unemployed people with a previous history of employment. Over recent years the focus was changed to include more people...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Visas (23 Jun 2021)

Simon Harris: The processing of US student visas, and the provision of appointments at US Embassies, is solely a matter for the US authorities. Officials in my department have brought this issue to the attention of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Foreign Affairs have informed us that they have raised the issue with the US Embassy in Dublin, encouraging them to process student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (22 Jun 2021)

Simon Harris: The Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme (AIS) was introduced in July 2020 to support employers during the COVID-19 period.  It provides an employer grant totalling €3,000 per new apprentice registered. This comprises an initial €2,000 payment on registration followed by a further €1,000 payment after the first year's employment where that apprentice is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Staff (22 Jun 2021)

Simon Harris: In line with the Universities Act, 1997, third-level institutions have autonomy in relation to human resource policies, subject to compliance with Government policy in respect of employment numbers and pay policy.  Employers in the higher education sector are required to operate in accordance with the provisions of national industrial relations agreements, including...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (22 Jun 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 444, 445, 446, 447 and 448 together. The Student Grant Appeals Board (the Board) was established under Section 25 of the Student Support Act 2011 and under Section 21(4)(a) is independent in the performance of its functions.  The current Board comprises of a Chairperson and 10 ordinary members. Under Section 25(14) of the Act, administrative...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (22 Jun 2021)

Simon Harris: The Irish Research Council (IRC) Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship provides outstanding students with the opportunity to direct their own research at the early-career stage, working with a supervisor, in their chosen area of interest. The Programme is highly competitive, with an average success rate of 18% over the past five years. All applications received under the IRC...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (22 Jun 2021)

Simon Harris: Springboard+ 2021 was launched on 14th June 2021, providing 10,158 places on 294 courses. As a result of multi-annual funding of graduate conversion courses, this leads to a combined total of 13,128 places in 399 courses available in the 2021/22 academic year under Springboard+ 2021 and HCI Pillar 1. Springboard+ 2021 courses are at Level 6 (Certificate) to Level 9 (Masters) on the...