Results 9,601-9,620 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Support Schemes (28 Apr 2021)

Simon Harris: Under the Department's Student Grant Scheme 2021 administered by SUSI, eligible candidates may receive funding provided they are attending an approved course at an approved institution as defined in the scheme. The definition of an approved institution is set out in Section 7 of the Student Support Act 2011 and Regulation 3 of the Student Support Regulations 2021. Private colleges operated...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (28 Apr 2021)

Simon Harris: Under the Department's Free Fees Initiative, the Exchequer pays tuition fees on behalf of eligible students attending approved full-time undergraduate courses. In order to qualify for funding under the Department’s Free Fees Initiative, students must meet the criteria of the scheme including the separate residency and nationality/citizenship requirements. Students must hold inter...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (28 Apr 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 760 and 761 together. The student contribution was introduced in higher education institutions with effect from the 2011/12 academic year and replaced the Student Services Charge. While the student contribution now stands at €3,000, it is important to recognise that there has been no increase in the student contribution charge since 2014/15...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland (28 Apr 2021)

Simon Harris: The Student Grant Scheme is the principal support for students in financial terms by my Department. It provides grant assistance to eligible students attending approved full-time courses in approved further or higher educational institutions who meet the prescribed eligibility criteria of the relevant scheme. The Scheme is administered on behalf of my Department by the national student grant...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Language (28 Apr 2021)

Simon Harris: The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science currently provides a range of services through Irish. Some of these services, including phone calls received in Irish, are currently managed under a shared services arrangement with the Department of Education. All communications received in Irish are responded to in Irish, and any person can expect to be able to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Language (28 Apr 2021)

Simon Harris: The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science provides all forms through Irish where requested, with one exception where, in the context of its Innovation, Research and Development Policy responsibilities, the Department accredits research organisations that want to access the fast track work permit scheme for researchers from outside the European...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (28 Apr 2021)

Simon Harris: On 20 November 2020 I received a joint application under section 29(1) of the Technological Universities Act 2018 from Athlone Institute of Technology and Limerick Institute of Technology seeking technological university (TU) designation. On 21 December 2020, I appointed an advisory panel to assess the application and to furnish a report thereon to the HEA. The advisory panel’s report...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (28 Apr 2021)

Simon Harris: The details requested by the Deputy are contained in the following table. 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 attached document, should the Deputy wish to contact the aegis bodies directly with this query. NAME OF CONTRACTOR Cost...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (28 Apr 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 768 to 770, inclusive, together. The overall aim of the PLC Pathways to Apprenticeship Programme is to provide opportunities for learners to gain experience in areas where they are considering undertaking an apprenticeship. Initial planning data indicates that over 800 learners will participate in pre-apprenticeship programmes in 2021. The recently published...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme (28 Apr 2021)

Simon Harris: The current Student Grants Appeals Board was appointed by the Minister in September 2016.  It is statutorily independent in the performance of its functions but receives administrative support from the Department.  There are statutory time provisions for determining appeals to the Board. Meetings are generally held once a fortnight but this can change depending on the number of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Lobbying Regulation (28 Apr 2021)

Simon Harris: My officials are making inquiries with the state bodies under the remit of my Department and will supply the information sought by the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (28 Apr 2021)

Simon Harris: The response of tertiary education to the COVID-19 pandemic is coordinated by my Department through the Covid-19 Tertiary Education Sector Steering Group and structure of working groups. The steering group is comprised of representatives from the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science,  our agencies, Higher Education Institutions, Students, Adult...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions (28 Apr 2021)

Simon Harris: According to the information available to me, the quotas in relation to primary school teaching, nursing and medicine are the only quotas determined by government departments. Higher Education Institutions are autonomous bodies, and, aside from where a quota has been set, can determine the places available in a given course. However even when there are no formal quotas imposed practical...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions (28 Apr 2021)

Simon Harris: On occasions, reports are jointly commissioned by key Government Departments, North and South on cross-Border enrolments - the last such report An Analysis of Existing Statistics on Student Flows between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland in Higher Education was published in December 2018 jointly by the Higher Education Authority, the Department of Education and Skills and the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Institutions (28 Apr 2021)

Simon Harris: In the Parliamentary Questions referenced the Deputy sought information in relation to the percentage share of public funding in the total revenue of Higher Education Institutions. In my response I confirmed that my department does not compile the information requested by the deputy. It is important to note that, in considering the total level of resource available to the sector,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Institutions (28 Apr 2021)

Simon Harris: Following the revised estimates for 2021, and as previously advised, exclusive of further education (programme A) and research allocations (programme C) total planned exchequer (programme B) and NTF funding of the HE sector for 2021 is in the order of €1.98billion. Within this allocation funding the following items are included in response to COVID 19 impacts: - 20million for expected...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Training Fund (28 Apr 2021)

Simon Harris: The National Training Fund (NTF) Act, 2000 provides for a levy on employers to be used to fund the development of and raising of skills amongst those in, or seeking, employment. The reserve surplus of the NTF by 2025 if expenditure remained stable (excluding Covid emergency spending) is €1.8 billion. See table below for further details. Table – NTF projected surplus...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (28 Apr 2021)

Simon Harris: My Department has not incurred any expenditure on public relations advice or media advice.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Advertising (28 Apr 2021)

Simon Harris: My Department has conducted three paid advertising campaigns in 2020 and 2021. There were two campaigns around COVID-19 safety messaging for young adults and students, and one to advertise The Right Course, a one-stop shop for training and learning opportunities for employers and employees. Campaign Channels Company Amount Year ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Support Schemes (28 Apr 2021)

Simon Harris: Officials in my Department are liaising with the Higher Education Authority (HEA) to confirm the position and the details will be communicated to the Deputy as soon as possible.