Results 9,981-10,000 of 45,539 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Contracts (17 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: My Department has not entered into any contracts for public relations or consultancy since January 2021.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (11 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 220 to 222, inclusive, together. To date, I have not received an application under the Technological Universities Act 2018 from the TUSEI development consortium. However, I am informed the consortium intends to submit an application by 28 April 2021 and that the application will seek designation for a new TU to serve the entirety of the South East region...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Support Schemes (11 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: Clarity concerning time spent in a college in Ireland by the student referred to by the Deputy is a matter for the Higher Education Institution which are autonomous bodies . However, I have been advised that the student referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for student support for the 2020/21 academic year to the Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). The application was...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (11 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are governed by the Universities Act 1997, the Institutes of Technologies Acts 1992 to 2006 and the Technological Universities Act 2018. Within the meaning of these Acts, HEIs are autonomous bodies and are responsible for their own day-to-day management and operational affairs including dealing with policy and procedure in relation to fees or any student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (11 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 these issues. As a result of the decision to minimise on-site teaching, all universities have confirmed that students...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (10 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: In the Programme for Government ‘Our Shared Future’, there is a commitment to develop a 10-year strategy for adult literacy, numeracy, and digital literacy. I have asked SOLAS to lead on its development. This new strategy will provide a framework to build on and streamline the substantial work that is already being done across a range of Departments and agencies, to increase...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (10 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 577 and 582 together. I am aware that issues have arisen in relation to placement hours both for students of Social Care programmes and for placements more generally as the restrictions to combat the spread of Covid-19 have tightened. My Department is monitoring developments in this regard very closely. From the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (10 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: In response to the combined demographic and funding challenge, the then Minister for Education and Skills appointed an Expert Group to identify and consider issues related to the long term sustainable funding of higher education in Ireland and to identify funding options for the future. The expert group report, Investing in National Ambition: A Strategy for Funding Higher Education”...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (10 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: I appreciate that this is a time of considerable stress and concern for third level students and the challenging and stressful circumstances that students are facing are being taken into account by Higher Education institutions as they adapt and respond to the changing situation. This includes the consideration of issues around on-site access for practical work for students. The national...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (10 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: The development and progression of technological universities is an established policy objective of Government in the context of overarching national strategy on higher education landscape restructuring and this is underscored in the commitment in the current Programme for Government. Under the statutory framework provided in the Technological Universities Act 2018, two or more IoTs may...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Science Foundation Ireland (10 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: The following positions are vacant at Science Foundation Ireland: No. of vacancies Title Length of time post vacant Estimated full year cost 1 Grants Compliance Manager Advertised 4th February, 2021 €76,638 1 Partnership Programme Manager Advertised 27th January, 2021 ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Institutes of Technology (10 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: The refurbishment works on the DKIT campus will be delivered on a phased basis out to 2023, with planning and design now well advanced. Work on the North block is due to commence in Q2 2021, with work on the South block due to commence in Q2 2022. The STEM extension element of the project is at tender stage, with work due to commence in Q2 2021. While all works are currently projected to be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Erasmus+ Programme (10 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: In October 2020, I had a productive virtual meeting with Minister Dodds, who has responsibility for further and higher education policy in Northern Ireland, where I advised the Minister of the Government's decision to ensure that Northern Ireland students could continue to access the Erasmus programme. Officials in my Department are now engaging with institutions in Northern Ireland, and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Erasmus+ Programme (10 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: The estimated cost for facilitating the continued access to Erasmus mobilities by higher education students from Northern Ireland is approximately €2.1m per year. The question of funding incoming students does not arise, as they are funded by their own authorities.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Erasmus+ Programme (10 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: As part of its decision to facilitate the continued access by NI higher education students to Erasmus mobilities, the Irish Government committed to funding the cost of this decision from its own resources.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Erasmus+ Programme (10 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: I am conscious that students will wish for clarity as soon as possible in regard to the format of the 2021-2022 academic year. However given the evolving public health situation it is not possible at this time to provide any concrete information on what the new academic year may look like. I would encourage students to engage with their higher education institution regarding their plans for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ministerial Meetings (10 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: I have had several opportunities to engage virtually with European Research Ministers since my appointment. This is a very important time for the European research and innovation agenda as we begin the implementation of the new framework for European research and innovation policy and roll out our new EU investment programme. One of the few positives of the pandemic is that it has...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research and Development (10 Feb 2021)

Simon Harris: The European Research Area (ERA), which was launched in 2000, aims to achieve a single research area in which researchers, scientific knowledge and technology circulate freely. There have been many significant achievements over the last 20 years, however progress has slowed in recent years. Member States agree that a renewed commitment is required at national level to reinvigorate the ERA and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (10 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 these issues. As a result of the decision to minimise on-site teaching, all universities have confirmed that students...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland (10 Feb 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. For...