Results 10,061-10,080 of 45,539 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (27 Jan 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 fee collection. My...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: At present, the Level 5 measures designate higher and further education as essential insofar as onsite presence is required for education activities that cannot be held remotely. In overall terms, the sectors have rapidly adjusted to a more restrictive environment again, with all further and higher education institutions conducting the vast majority of their provision online. The balance...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 599, 602, 605, 606, 607, 610 and 611 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: Universities and Institutes of Technology are autonomous and determine their own procedures for admission. The CAO process applications for undergraduate, and some postgraduate, courses on their behalf. Decisions on admissions are made by the higher education institutions who then instruct the CAO to make offers to successful candidates. Therefore neither I nor my Department have a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Support Schemes (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: The HPAT is independently administered by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) on behalf of the universities’ medical schools and the RCSI. The selection criteria and process for admission to medical schools is a matter for those institutions in line with their statutory autonomy in relation to academic affairs. Neither I nor my Department have a role in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Traveller Education (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: Dormant accounts funding of €300,000 was approved in 2021 for targeted supports to address the Implications of COVID-19 for Traveller transfer to and progression within Higher Education. Consultations have commenced between officials in my Department, the Higher Education Authority, Traveller representative groups and representatives from the Higher Education Institutions on the best...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Health and Social Care Professionals (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: In considering the issue of fees, it is important to note that the State currently provides very substantial financial support to undergraduate students in higher education towards the cost of their studies. This support has played a very significant role in facilitating access to and growth in higher education. What was previously the preserve of a relatively small proportion of the school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: The Department is closely monitoring the budgetary impacts of Covid-19, in close engagement with my Department’s agencies and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The Government has already implemented a range of supports for students and for the further and higher education sector in recognition of the impacts of Covid-19. In July 2020 approved a comprehensive package...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Support Schemes (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: My Department does not have a role in tuition fee arrangements or the placement of students enrolled on these courses. During the course of the programme, students are required to undertake placement in different services, including the National Educational Psychological Service and the Health Service Executive. The placement arrangements and conditions are a matter between the higher...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Disability Act Employment Targets (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: Part V of the Disability Act 2005 requires that public bodies promote and support the employment of people with disabilities and ensure that 3% of staff employed by them are people with disabilities. The requirement applies to the Department of Further and Higher Education, Resource, Innovation and Science and certain of its aegis bodies. My Department which was established on 23 July...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Appointments to State Boards (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 615 and 616 together. The details sought by the Deputy are available in the attached tables. As the Deputy will be aware Board appointments while made by me as Minister, are not in all cases made at my discretion. Individuals may be nominated for appointment by various organisations arising from the terms in the relevant legislation regarding the Body...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Access to Higher Education (21 Jan 2021)

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

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Erasmus+ Programme (21 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: It is important to note that student participation in the Erasmus+ Programme does not depend on the nationality of the student, but on the institution in which the student is registered. Education institutions must hold the Erasmus Mobility Charter, which allows them to partner with each other. Once there is an Inter-institutional agreement between the 'sending' and 'host' institution, it...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (21 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: In considering this issue, it is important to note that the State currently provides very substantial financial support to undergraduate students in higher education towards the cost of their studies. This support has played a very significant role in facilitating access to and growth in higher education. What was previously the preserve of a relatively small proportion of the school leaving...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (21 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: Eduroam is a service provided by HEAnet, the Education Sectors Shared Service provider of ICT Services including the provision of the Education and Research Network. The Eduroam service would benefit all students especially with the increasing move to online education and dependence on broadband accessibility. Eduroam is a mature solution across Irish higher education where the large...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Reform (21 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: The CAO process applications for undergraduate, and some postgraduate, courses on the behalf of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Decisions on admissions are made by the HEIs who then instruct the CAO to make offers to successful candidates. It is not within my remit to instruct the HEIs in relation to criteria for admission to higher education. My officials have met with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research Funding (21 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: The Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation's final report was published on 12 January 2021 by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Recommendation no. 38 of the report states that ‘a number of scholarships should be created for further research in memory of all the children who died, with preference given to children from disadvantaged...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Erasmus+ Programme (21 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: The recent Government's decision on facilitating continued access to Erasmus mobilities is focused on higher education students in Northern Ireland institutions. However I have asked my officials to explore the issues regarding students pursuing further education programmes in Northern Ireland and to report to me shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland (21 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: As the deputy is aware, Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) is one of the pathways to study undergraduate medicine. One of the recommendations of the Fottrell report (2006) was the introduction of a new graduate entry medicine programme (GEM). Students pursuing GEM programmes do so as second degree courses and consequently are not eligible for free fees funding or for student grants. In...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (21 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: The fee payable by a student can vary depending on a variety factors including the type of course and the student's access route including previous education. Entry to medicine in Irish HEIs is provided through both undergraduate and graduate entry routes. Under the Department's Free Fees Initiative, the Exchequer pays tuition fees on behalf of eligible first time undergraduate students...