Results 9,761-9,780 of 45,539 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Protected Disclosures (25 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: In accordance with Section 22 of the Protected Disclosure Act 2014, my Department published information on protected disclosures received during 2017, 2018 and 2019 on the Department of Education website:  www.education.ie/en/Publications/Corporate-Reports/Ann ual-Report/. No protected disclosures have been received from Department officials or retired officials from 2017 to-date.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Support Schemes (25 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: Under the Department's Student Grant Scheme, 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 2020. Private colleges operated on a for-profit basis are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland (25 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 137 and 138 together. The Student Grant Scheme, administered by SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland), provides grant assistance 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 means test...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research and Development (25 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: Gross Expenditure on R&D (GERD) expressed as a percentage of GDP/GNP/GNI* stood at an estimated 1.13%, 1.47% and 1.88% respectively in 2019. The OECD defines GERD as the total expenditure (current and capital) on R&D carried out by all resident companies, research institutes, university and government laboratories, etc., in a country. It includes R&D funded from...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Policy Functions (25 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: Progressing disability services, and ensuring that people with disabilities can participate in further and higher education, is an important priority of my Department. In terms of access to higher education, the National Access Plan (NAP) has set targets to increase participation in higher education by people with disabilities. Specific targets have been set to increase participation in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (25 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: Project Ireland 2040 signals Exchequer investment of €2.2 billion in Ireland's higher education infrastructure over the period to 2027. There are a number of ongoing higher education investment programmes including: - Higher Education Strategic Infrastructure Fund, which is co-funding five projects, four in the university sector and one in an IoT. The Fund has a focus on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Oideachas trí Ghaeilge (25 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: Is doiciméad ardleibhéil é an Ráiteas Straitéise ina leagtar béim ar spriocanna straitéiseacha don Roinn Breisoideachais agus Ardoideachais, Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Eolaíochta. I gcomhréir leis an gcur chuige seo, ní thagraítear go sonrach do mhórchuid de ghníomhaíochtaí agus de thosaíochtaí na...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Employment Support Services (24 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: While neither I nor my officials have engaged with the company, I am aware that Kerry Group issued a proposed collective redundancy notice on 4th March in respect of 150 positions which, if following consultation it is not possible to avoid, will take effect across two locations between October 2021 and February 2022.  Clearly the potential loss of these jobs is most regrettable and I...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (24 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1107 and 1164 together. While Ireland is on Level 5 of the Plan for Living with COVID all further and higher education institutions will deliver the majority of their classes online with only essential activities held on site.  While it is appreciated that the COVID impacts are disappointing for students who had hoped to have as much time on campus as...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (24 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: I am aware of the high number of CAO applications this year, and officials from my Department are engaging regularly with representatives from the higher education sector in relation to the 2021/22 academic year and demand for places. €18 million has been provided in Budget 2021 to deliver new undergraduate student places from September 2021 which will address demographic growth...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (24 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1109 and 1174 together. I am aware of the high number of CAO applications this year, and officials from my Department are engaging regularly with representatives from the higher education sector in relation to the 2021/22 academic year and demand for places. €18 million has been provided in Budget 2021 to deliver new undergraduate student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland (24 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1110 and 1111 together. To date, 2,050 students who were initially awarded funding for academic year 2020/21 have since become ineligible for funding by SUSI. Please note, this number is subject to change as operations for academic year 2020/21 are ongoing. SUSI has sought or is seeking repayments from 237 of the 2,050 students. Please note that this number...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland (24 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: Under the terms of the Student Grant 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. To satisfy the terms and conditions of the Student Grant Scheme in relation to progression, a student must be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland (24 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: Under the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is available to eligible students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the terms and conditions of funding, including those relating to residency, means, nationality and previous academic attainment.  The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for SUSI to determine....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Legislative Process (24 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: I am responding to this question on the basis that it refers to Primary Legislation. As the Deputy is aware, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science is a new Department, only in existence since August 2020.  There is one Bill in development in my Department currently, a reform of the Higher Education Authority Act, 1971, but it provides an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (24 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: Hibernia College is a privately owned online third level educational company which delivers, inter alia, post graduate initial teacher education (ITE) programmes. The funding to which the Deputy refers is made available to those institutions that receive support under the Student Assistance Fund (SAF). Private colleges operated on a for-profit basis are not approved...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland (24 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: For student grant purposes, students are categorised according to their circumstances either as students dependent on parents or a legal guardian, or as independent mature students. A student may be assessed as an independent student (i.e. assessed without reference to parental income and address) if he/she has attained the age of 23 on the 1st of January of the year of first entry to an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (24 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: Please find answer to PQ: 14635/21 in the table below.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ministerial Communications (24 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: I have been informed by the Minister of State with responsibility for Skills and Further Education  that he has not directly or indirectly canvassed a higher education institution on behalf of a job applicant.

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

Simon Harris: Under current Level 5 restrictions, all activity in the English Language Education (ELE) sector should now be wholly online and providers have been advised that there is no basis for the recruitment of international students who might travel to the country. As part of the response to the pandemic, my Department has established a specific Working Group for the ELE sector comprised of...