Results 10,101-10,120 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Third Level Admissions (13 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: The University of Limerick is an autonomous institution within the meaning of the Universities Act 1997. It is therefore academically independent and entitled to regulate its own academic affairs and administrative processes, including in relation to admissions. Neither I nor my Department have a role in these internal processes. Admission to the post-primary PME is contingent on the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic (13 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 658 and 663 together. With the deterioration of the COVID-19 situation in Ireland in recent weeks, HE and FET providers have been required to adapt again and carefully restrict the number of staff and students coming on-site. Institutions and providers are using their discretion to restrict onsite attendance, only allowing the most essential work to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (13 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: As part of a package of COVID-19 supports for the higher and further education sectors, my Department allocated a total of €15 million to higher and further education providers for a once-off COVID-19 grant to support disadvantaged students in accessing ICT devices. This initiative addresses concerns regarding the digital divide in the context of the shift to online and blended...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Erasmus+ Programme (13 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: In the context of the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union, representatives of civic society from all communities in Northern Ireland expressed concern over the loss of access to the EU's Erasmus Mobility Programme for students in higher education. In responding to these concerns, the Irish Government has committed to providing continued access to Erasmus + higher education...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic (13 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: With the deterioration of the COVID-19 situation in Ireland in recent weeks, HE and FET providers have been required to adapt again and carefully restrict the number of staff and students coming on-site.  Institutions and providers are using their discretion to restrict onsite attendance, only allowing the most essential work to take place onsite. Local assessments of what can be...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Third Level Staff (13 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: I wish to advise the Deputy that, in accordance with the methodology used in the published institutional profiles, the information available to my Department reflects an academic staff:student ratio in Institutes of Technology of 15:1 (2017/18 enrolment figures). My officials have requested that the HEA undertake to confirm the updated ratio and the details will be communicated...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic (13 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: The Government has agreed that Level 5 as set out in the Plan for Living with COVID-19 will apply nationally and will remain in place until midnight on 31 January 2021. Level 5 measures designate higher and further education as essential insofar as onsite presence is required and such education activities cannot be held remotely. On 6 January I confirmed that further and higher education will...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Erasmus+ Programme (13 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: In the context of the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union, representatives of civic society from all communities in Northern Ireland expressed concern over the loss of access to the EU's Erasmus Mobility Programme for students in higher education.  In responding to these concerns, the Irish Government has committed to providing continued access to Erasmus + higher...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Shared Island Unit (13 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: Last October, I had a virtual meeting with Minister Dodds, when we discussed a number of areas of interest for cross-border collaboration between our Departments.  This work is to be taken forward by Departmental Officials and other key stakeholders, particularly having regard to the Irish Government's shared island initiative. My Department is also engaged with the Department of An...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Third Level Staff (13 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: The Department has committed to a review of the decision-making process in relation to the examination of complaints on governance issues at the institution referred to by the Deputy. Steps have been taken to commence the compilation of relevant records and initiate arrangements for the conduct of a review and it is hoped to make progress in the coming weeks, allowing for some...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Student Grant Scheme (13 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: The main support available to students is the statutory based Student Grant Scheme administered by SUSI. To qualify for grant support, a student has to meet various criteria such as means, residency, nationality and progression. Approved undergraduate courses for the Student Grant Scheme 2020 are prescribed in the Student Support Regulations 2020 and in the Student Support Act 2011. It is not...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Consultancy Contracts (13 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: My Department has not outsourced any COVID-19 related work, services or advice to consultancies. However, while we haven’t engaged professional consultancies in relation to our COVID response, my officials have drawn on the considerable public health expertise available in the third level sector and sought advice and assistance on public health issues relevant to the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Telecommunications Services (13 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: Eduroam is a service which could 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 Education institutions have strong identity management solutions in place. Significant investment in identity management improvements across first and second level...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (17 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are autonomous within the meaning of the Universities Act 1997, the Institutions of Technology Acts 1992 to 2006 and the Technological Universities Act 2018. While it is not within my remit to determine the assessment policies of HEIs, I appreciate that the circumstances of this year have been both challenging and stressful to students, the HEI's are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Institutions (17 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: University College Dublin is an autonomous institution within the meaning of the Universities Act 1997 and is therefore academically independent and entitled to regulate its own academic affairs, including in relation to its assessment processes and policies. It is not within my remit to intervene in such matters and I have not spoken to the UCD governing authorities on this matter. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (17 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: Higher Education Institutions are autonomous institutions within the meaning of the Universities Act 1997, the Institutions of Technology Acts 1992 to 2006 and the Technological Universities Act 2018. Under this legislation, the institutions are academically independent and are entitled to regulate their academic affairs and administrative processes, including in relation to fees charged for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Staff (17 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: In the event a civil or public servant retires and goes on pension and subsequently takes a position with a Government Department or organisation covered by a Civil Service Pension Scheme, s/he may not earn more by way of their re-employed salary and pension than s/he was earning prior to their retirement. When the salary and pension exceed the salary prior to retirement the excess is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Nursing Education (17 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: The payment of student nurses and midwives is a matter for the Department of Health. Student nurses and midwives were paid as healthcare assistants in the earlier part of the pandemic while clinical placements were suspended. An initial assessment of student placementsfor nurses and midwives has been conducted. The Minister for Health has also stated that a short, time-limited examination...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Seirbhísí trí Ghaeilge (16 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: Tógfaidh mé ceist uimhir a 252, uimhir a 253 agus uimhir a 254 le chéile. Cé gur bunaíodh an Roinn Breisoideachais agus Ardoideachais, Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Eolaíochta an samhradh seo caite, ní bheidh feidhmeanna agus soláthar foirne na Roinne nua aistrithe go hiomlán ón Roinn Fiontar, Trádála agus Fostaíochta...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland (16 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: In recognition of the challenges facing full time third level students the Government has approved once off funding of €50m to provide additional financial assistance in this academic year.  The funding was provided in Budget 2021, in recognition of the exceptional situation they have experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Financial assistance will be...