Results 10,161-10,180 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Third Level Education (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: Certainly not from me. I think Deputy Shanahan would be in favour of political patronage if it were to do with the south east, so there is a slight irony in that remark. My Department is working with both WIT and IT Carlow on a number of projects, including, as I said, the engineering, computing and general teaching building in WIT. It is the largest project in the entire country within...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Third Level Education (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: I am absolutely determined to deliver a technological university for the south east. It is key from an access to education point of view for Waterford and the south-east region. It is also a key driver of regional development and balanced regional development. It will be a game changer for the south east. As the Deputy knows, I have made a number of appointments and decisions in regard to...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Support Schemes (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for her question. In recognition of the challenges facing full-time third level students, the Government has approved once-off funding of €50 million to provide additional financial assistance in this academic year. The funding was provided in budget 2021 in recognition of the exceptional situation students have experienced due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Financial...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Support Schemes (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: On the financial question, I will get the Deputy a note on that. A €50 million scheme was approved by Government. I have dealt with how SUSI students will receive their funding and I will not dwell on that. In regard to non-SUSI students, if we may call them that, higher education institutions will contact eligible students as soon as is practicable. I have made clear that I...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Conway-Walsh for raising this matter. I acknowledge it is an issue she has rightly pursued for some time. The short answer is that I have been informed that all universities are now offering refunds for university-owned accommodation. If the Deputy has individual instances where that is not the case, I ask that she bring them to the attention of my office and I will bring...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy and will pursue the two specific issues she has raised and any individual cases that she wishes to bring to my attention. My view on this is the same as hers, namely, that in the case of college-owned accommodation, refunds should be issued. In fairness to our universities, I understand it has been a very challenging year for them but it has been an extremely challenging...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: I have tried to provide a variety of ways to assist students and their families financially within the resources and levers available to me. I agree that any student accommodation provider that is not acting reasonably will not be forgotten by students and their families. People should reflect on that. Figures show that in Ireland, unlike other countries, approximately 38% of students...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: The principal support provided by the Department in financial terms is the Student Grant Scheme. Under 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 decision on eligibility for a student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (15 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 provided to all EU...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: My Department’s Statement of Strategy which is due to be published in the New Year will establish a framework for progress in the further and higher education and research sectors for the next three years. This offers a very timely opportunity to set out the task of bridgeing the gap between education and the economy and helping future proof our economy and our people to face the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: Under the Haddington Road Agreement an Expert Group on Fixed-Term and Part-Time Employment in Lecturing in third Level Education in Ireland was established to assist in addressing concerns raised about precarious employment by Union representatives. In May 2016 the Chairperson of the Expert Group, Mr. Michael Cush S.C., published his report. The Department issued directions to the sector on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: My Department liaises regularly with colleagues in the Department of Health on the implications of COVID-19 for higher and further education. I am in regular contact with my colleague the Minister for Health. Such close and ongoing cooperation does not take the form of my meeting directly with with the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET). My Department has at all times been guided...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: As outlined in my previous responses to the Deputy on this issue, the report referred to was undertaken by the University of Limerick (UL) in the context of its legislative autonomy to address and resolve any issue that arises within the University. Under the Universities Act 1997, overall authority for the affairs of the University is vested in the Governing Authority appointed under the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: The student grant scheme opens the door for many people to access further and higher education who would not otherwise have been able to avail of these opportunities. However, I have been very clear in my view that the scheme has remained static despite changes in Irish society in recent years. The Programme for Government contains commitments to, among other things, review SUSI...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (15 Dec 2020)

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: Higher Education Institutions (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: My Department and the Higher Education Authority (HEA) engage with Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) on a regular basis in relation to their campus development plans and capital projects. I have also had a number of useful engagements with stakeholders within the sector at which capital development was a major focus. As the Deputy will be aware, higher education institutions are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Staff (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: In May 2016 the then Minister welcomed the report of the Chairperson of the Expert Group on Fixed-Term and Part-Time Employment in Lecturing in Third Level Education in Ireland. The recommendations contained in the report will assist in addressing concerns raised about precarious employment. The Department issued directions to the sector on the 4th July 2016 to implement the recommendations...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Science Foundation Ireland (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: The creation of my Department reflects the priority which the Government attaches to research, innovation and science. My intent is to bring a renewed focus and level on ambition to how research and human capital can drive sustainable economic development in every part of Ireland and help us to address major societal and global challenges. I have been very struck in my international...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: I am conscious of the impact that Covid-19 has had on the leaving certificate class of 2021, and will take action as necessary to ensure that a full range of further and higher education options are available to them. This year more students than ever before were offered a place in higher education with more than 49,000 accepting an offer of a place. There is no indication that a higher...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: SOLAS Funding (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Harris: For 2021 and beyond, my Department, in consultation with SOLAS, aims to support a more strategic investment to Futher Education and Training (FET) capital. SOLAS is engaging with the sector in anticipation of a call-out early in the New Year for capital investment proposals. This will identify projects for delivery in 2021 while also identifying medium to larger scale projects to be...