Results 9,921-9,940 of 45,539 for speaker:Simon Harris

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

Simon Harris: I am conscious of the challenges faced by students regarding student accommodation this year due to both financial pressures, and the blended learning format of the 2020/21 academic year. The Deputy will be aware that the university sector has been actively engaging with students on the issue of accommodation refunds. As a result of the decision to minimise on-site teaching, all...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (24 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 675 and 676 together. In August 2020, I wrote to all publicly funded higher education institutions (HEIs) requesting that they develop institutional action plans on tackling sexual violence and harassment, and report to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on their progress on the implementation of the Framework for Consent in HEIs. Since then, the...

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

Simon Harris: It has been a significant priority for me and my Department, in the context of the shift to online teaching and learning that has arisen from the public health restrictions, to provide support to students to facilitate connectivity and to examine options designed to seek to minimise the extent to which connectivity challenges act as a barrier to full participation in higher and further...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Brexit Issues (24 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: Until 31st December 2020, Scotland applied a exemption for EU students from outside the UK for its fee regime for higher education students. This facilitated the 'free fees' regime for Scottish students, and EU (including Irish students) while at the same time charging fees to students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland. As a consequence of the UK departure from the EU, Scotland...

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

Simon Harris: Under the July stimulus package an additional funding allocation of €47.5m was provided for Higher Education skills-related programmes. The higher education elements of the July stimulus package were in three broad areas – further support for Springboard+ and HCI Pillar 1 (€10m), Funding for Postgraduate provision (€22.5m), and the provision of modular...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Access to Higher Education (24 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: The HEAR scheme is operated by the Irish Universities Association (IUA) who set the policy criteria for the scheme. Admissions under the schemes are regulated by the higher education institutions themselves. Each institution determines its own admissions policy in relation to the schemes, the number of places they reserve and the allocation of those places. Applications to both schemes are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Data (24 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: Data on PME enrolments by institution is available in the attached table in respect of publicly funded higher education institutions (HEIs). As this data is taken from the HEA's Student Records System, it does not contain data on private institutions. Enrolment data from these institutions is not available to my Department. Higher Education Institution 2017/2018 ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Brexit Issues (24 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 684 to 686, inclusive, together. Until 31st December 2020, Scotland applied an exemption for EU students from outside the UK for its fee regime for higher education students. This facilitated the 'free fees' regime for Scottish students, and EU (including Irish students) while at the same time charging fees to students from England, Wales and Northern...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research Funding (24 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: As Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, my Department has overall responsibility for national research and innovation policy. However, other departments have specific responsibility for research and innovation strategy related to their policy remits. Responsibility for policy relating to genomics research falls under the remit of the Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (24 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: The information requested by the Deputy is not held in my Department. Expenditure on construction of student accommodation is a matter for the Higher Education Institutions themselves, in line with their institutional autonomy.

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

Simon Harris: The principal support provided by the Department in financial terms is the Student Grant Scheme. Under the terms of the 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. The Programme for Government...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (24 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: My Department has expended €6251.24 in support of the "Keep it Small, Keep it Safe, Keep your Distance" social media campaign in 2020. There are no current commitments for further campaigns.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Data (24 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: My Department does not hold or collect the type of data in question. Higher Education Institutions are autonomous bodies and are responsible for their own day-to-day management and operational affairs including in relation to their academic affairs and the development of their educational offerings.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Expansion of the Technological Universities: Discussion (23 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: So the Chairman knows, the Cabinet is still meeting but I chose this location. I am delighted to join the committee and I am sorry for the inconvenience caused by being late.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Expansion of the Technological Universities: Discussion (23 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: I thank Senator Mullen for his questions. I acknowledge the correspondence from the committee and, from my recollection, the fact the Senator raised this matter again in Seanad yesterday. I certainly read comments about that yesterday evening. I would make a few points. Regarding the specific institutions referenced in the correspondence, I have been in touch, through my Department, with...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Expansion of the Technological Universities: Discussion (23 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: I thank the Senator.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Expansion of the Technological Universities: Discussion (23 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: I thank the Senator for his questions. First, on the regional matter, I reaffirm to the Senator and the committee my commitment and that of the Minister of State, Deputy Collins, and the Government to provide a site for, let us call it, the Wexford campus of the technological university for the south east, TUSE. I am limited in what I can say other than there is active engagement on it....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Expansion of the Technological Universities: Discussion (23 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: I can come back in at the end if there is a chance.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Expansion of the Technological Universities: Discussion (23 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: Senator Dolan may have to recap on some of those questions. There are many areas to cover. I thank her for her interest and work in this area. The digital skills piece is key, and not just digital skills but literacy, numeracy and digital skills. Approximately 50% of adults lack digital skills. They will be locked out of society and our economies if we do not rectify this. We have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Expansion of the Technological Universities: Discussion (23 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: In the interest of time, I can send Deputy Conway-Walsh a more detailed note. My understanding is the Connacht Ulster Alliance has achieved the required technological university criteria. It has carried out its own independent audit. The CUA and the Teachers Union of Ireland, TUI, are in negotiations on a memorandum of understanding on a number of associated position papers. A ballot is...