Results 9,621-9,640 of 45,539 for speaker:Simon Harris

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

Simon Harris: Neither my Department nor the Higher Education Authority collect the data on the number of students on joint programmes with institutions in other jurisdictions.

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

Simon Harris: According most recent enrolment data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency in the UK, there were 9,140 Irish students in the UK in the 2019/ 2020 academic year. The Department does not have ready access to data on the number of students in other countries beyond Ireland and the UK.

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

Simon Harris: The decision to support Erasmus students was taken in the context of my Department's role as national authority for the Erasmus programme.  It is not possible to extend the arrangements for other categories ofstudents who travel outside the State to pursue their studies in other countries. 

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

Simon Harris: My Department does not have data on the travel arrangements of students who travel independently to pursue studies outside of the Erasmus+ programme. In the main, these students undertake their studies independently and as a matter of personal choice.  It is therefore not possible to provide an estimate of costs.

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

Simon Harris: The decision to support Erasmus+ participants with mandatory hotel quarantine was taken in the specific context of the Erasmus programme, for which my Department is the national authority. Ireland is designated as a programme country under the Erasmus+ programme. As part of the programme, each programme country must nominate a national authority to monitor and supervise the...

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

Simon Harris: The decision to support Erasmus+ participants with mandatory hotel quarantine was taken in the specific context of the Erasmus programme, for which my Department is the national authority. Ireland is designated as a programme country under the Erasmus+ programme. As part of the programme, each programme country must nominate a national authority to monitor and supervise the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (28 Apr 2021)

Simon Harris: I wish to advise the Deputy that the additional investment required to reduce the staff: student ratio to 15:1 across the university and technological sector is €147.480m per annum. This is in accordance with the methodology used in the Institutional Profiles (published by the Higher Education Authority) and based on the 2017/18 enrolment figures for full time equivalent...

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

Simon Harris: 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 in their own right. In order to meet the residency criteria a student must have been ordinarily resident in an EU/EEA/Swiss/UK state for at least three of the five years preceding their...

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

Simon Harris: English language education (ELE) in Ireland is a broad and diverse sector with the vast majority of activity undertaken by private sector providers. I am aware of the important contribution made by this sector and of the challenges that are being encountered given the substantial impact that the Covid-19 outbreak has had on students, teachers and providers. As part of the response to the...

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.