Results 9,421-9,440 of 45,539 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Cybersecurity Policy (26 May 2021)

Simon Harris: For operational and security reasons, it is not appropriate to disclose details, including any budgetary matters, of my Department’s Cyber Security arrangements, or those of State Agencies under my remit. Any disclosure of information in relation to cyber security matters could assist malicious actors in identifying potential vulnerabilities and potentially compromise my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Cybersecurity Policy (26 May 2021)

Simon Harris: For operational and security reasons, it is not appropriate to disclose details of my Department’s cyber security arrangements. Any disclosure of information in relation to cyber security matters could assist malicious actors in identifying potential vulnerabilities and potentially compromise my Department’s information security posture.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (26 May 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 213 and 214 together. As the deputy will be aware, higher education institutions are autonomous bodies as set out in legislation and are responsible for the day-to-day management and operational affairs of the institution including the determination of postgraduate tuition fees and refund policies. The matters raised are an internal matter for the University...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (25 May 2021)

Simon Harris: According to a HEA report on supply and demand of student accommodation published in 2017, in 2014 the breakdown of HEI-owned and privately owned student accommodation was as follows: HEI-owned Private Total 11,114 (35.6%) 20,182 (64.4%) 31,296 My Department began tracking the completion of student accommodation bed spaces after...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Institutes of Technology (25 May 2021)

Simon Harris: Dundalk Institute of Technology has confirmed that the Institute purchased the JJB Soccerdome (15,539m2) & Ice Dome Facility (3,513m2) in January 2014. The combined purchase price for the buildings in question was €2,800,000. The JJB Soccerdome has been refurbished and now operates as a student/public gym and sports centre. DkIT have advised that the facility operates on a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (25 May 2021)

Simon Harris: My Department understands there is a longstanding arrangement in place under which the HSE, and indeed former Health Boards, recruit Trainee Clinical Psychologists and sponsor their training in order to encourage employment with the HSE of suitably qualified professionals. This arrangement is made by the HSE and is not the responsibility of my Department. The question of whether similar...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (25 May 2021)

Simon Harris: Doctoral education programmes in Ireland educate and develop researchers to the highest skills levels so that they become creative, critical and independent individuals who will advance the boundaries of research. Through the process of doctoral education, the student is provided with opportunities to develop a range of skills to a very advanced level. These skills relate both to the research...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (25 May 2021)

Simon Harris: Placements for social care students are organised at the level of each individual Higher Education Institution (HEI), as part of their programme offerings to be delivered in conjunction with relevant placement providers. Where appropriate, each HEI will develop their programme offerings to meet the accreditation standards of relevant regulatory and professional recognition bodies including...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (25 May 2021)

Simon Harris: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine. As part of a comprehensive customer service and communications strategy provided by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), to ensure that all necessary avenues are open to applicants to receive...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (25 May 2021)

Simon Harris: I am very conscious of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our students. In recognition of the challenges facing full time third level students, financial assistance is being provided in academic year 2020/21 to all students who avail of SUSI grants and to all EU full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students attending publicly funded Higher Education Institutions in the state. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (25 May 2021)

Simon Harris: My officials have spoken on a number of occasions with representatives from the higher education sector regarding any changes to the non-progression rate among students in this year. While precise figures on non-progression are not available at this time, the higher education institutions have indicated that there is no significant change either upwards or downwards in the non-progression...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (25 May 2021)

Simon Harris: I wish to advise the Deputy that the college to which he refers, is an approved Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) centre which is managed and funded by City of Dublin ETB. Post Leaving Certificate Centres provide further education courses up to Level 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). However, my Department has facilitated the provision of a visual media course accredited by...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (25 May 2021)

Simon Harris: The Deputy will be aware that the Programme for Government contains commitments to, among other things, review SUSI eligibility criteria, adjacency rates and postgraduate grant supports. On foot of these commitments I gave approval to commence a review of the Student Grant Scheme. A Steering Committee has been established to provide direction for the external consultants undertaking the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Nursing Education (25 May 2021)

Simon Harris: The enrolment data requested is in the followingspreadsheet from 2005 to date. The courses, general nursing and psychiatric nursing, commenced in 2000, however enrolment data from 2000 to 2004 is not readily available from GMIT. Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Numbers of Students Studying at the Mayo Campus of GMIT GENERAL and PSYCHIATRIC Nursing (2005/2006 - 2020/2021) Programme ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions (25 May 2021)

Simon Harris: Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are autonomous and manage their own academic affairs including admissions procedures. The CAO process applications for undergraduate courses on behalf of the HEIs. Decisions on admissions are made by the HEIs who then instruct the CAO to make offers to successful candidates. Neither I nor my Department have a role in the operation of the CAO. Queries...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (25 May 2021)

Simon Harris: My Department’s IT backup arrangements are that frequently-changing data is backed-up nightly, infrequently-changing data is backed-up weekly, and both types are also stored offsite on encrypted tape media. The information in respect of state bodies, within the scope of the Deputy’s question, is not held by my Department. Contact details for these bodies are set out in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (25 May 2021)

Simon Harris: The objective of the statutory based student grant scheme is to provide additional assistance where parental income is below a certain threshold or, in the case of independent mature students, where the level of income of the student and his or her spouse warrants additional assistance by way of a grant. For student grants purposes, students are categorised according to their...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Legal Services (25 May 2021)

Simon Harris: The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science was legally established on 2 August 2020. In 2020 my Department has incurred €11,022 in legal fees. This figure constitutes costs paid directly to a barrister or solicitor by the Department.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Cybersecurity Policy (25 May 2021)

Simon Harris: For operational and security reasons, it is not appropriate to disclose details, including any budgetary matters, of my Department’s cyber security arrangements, or those of State Agencies under my remit. Any disclosure of information in relation to cyber security matters could assist malicious actors in identifying potential vulnerability and potentially compromise my...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Apprenticeship Programmes (20 May 2021)

Simon Harris: I could not agree more with the Deputy. The Government is going to do two specific things. We are allocating the €20 million to provide extra supports, and if we need to do more we will do it. We have given it to the HEA and to SOLAS and they are examining what practical measures they can put in place to reduce the backlog. Second, and importantly, we have prioritised getting the...