Results 10,381-10,400 of 45,539 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (24 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: I am very conscious of the impact the pandemic has had on our students. To ensure the safety of our students and staff in further and higher education, the majority of college is online this semester. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Staff (24 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: As outlined in my response of the 11th November, the report referred to by the Deputy was undertaken by the University of Limerick (UL) in the context of its legislative autonomy to address and resolve issues that arise within the university. The Department understands that the report referred to was initiated by UL as part of its investigation into a protected disclosure received by it,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ministerial Meetings (24 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: I had a video-conference meeting with the Northern Ireland Minister for the Economy last month, and while it was mainly introductory, we both acknowledged the importance of the research and innovation agenda for the continued economic development to the island of Ireland. Through Universities Ireland, I am working closely with the Presidents and Vice-chancellors of universities, both North...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland (24 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: As part of a comprehensive customer service and communications strategy provided by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), to ensure that all necessary avenues are open to applicants to receive the information they need, a dedicated email and phone line service is provided by SUSI for Oireachtas members. This was established to meet an identified need for applicants who choose to engage...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland (24 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) is the state agency with statutory responsibility for the quality assurance of further and higher education and training in Ireland. QQI is responsible for maintaining the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). The NFQ is a system of ten levels which aims to make the qualifications system in Ireland easier to understand, thus facilitating the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Institutions (24 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: Universities are autonomous institutions within the meaning of the Universities Act 1997, Technological University’s Act 2018 and the Institute of Technology Acts 1992 -2006. Institutions have autonomy in relation to human resource policies, subject to compliance with Government policy in respect of employment numbers and pay policy, and are not under the direct control of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Staff (24 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: Universities are autonomous institutions within the meaning of the Universities Act 1997, Technological University’s Act 2018 and the Institute of Technology Acts 1992 -2006. Institutions have autonomy in relation to human resource policies, subject to compliance with Government policy in respect of employment numbers and pay policy, and are not under the direct control of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Staff (24 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: Universities are autonomous institutions within the meaning of the Universities Act 1997, Technological University’s Act 2018 and the Institute of Technology Acts 1992 -2006. Institutions have autonomy in relation to human resource policies, subject to compliance with Government policy in respect of employment numbers and pay policy, and are not under the direct control of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland (24 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: The number of students that applied for a SUSI grant in each of the years 2015 to 2019 and to date in 2020 are provided in the attached table. ">Doc

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland (24 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: The Student Grant Scheme is administered by the centralised national grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland), a business unit of CDETB (City of Dublin Education and Training Board), on behalf of the Department. The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for SUSI to determine. If an individual applicant considers that he/she has been unjustly refused...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (24 Nov 2020)

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: Third Level Education (24 Nov 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. Funding has been secured to maintain the places created for the 2020/21 academic year, and a further €18 million has been provided in Budget 2021 to deliver an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland (24 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: As part of a comprehensive customer service and communications strategy provided by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), to ensure that all necessary avenues are open to applicants to receive the information they need, a dedicated email and phone line service is provided by SUSI for Oireachtas members. This was established to meet an identified need for applicants who choose to engage...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Employment Rights (24 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 683 and 689 together. Postgraduate programmes are comprised of a range of elements designed to further the training and development of students. In particular PhD students, in addition to conducting research, participate in other activities to develop generic and transferable skills. These activities are regarded as an integral part of their training and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (24 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: In line with “Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19” it is a matter for Government to determine the level of public health restrictions applied and the composition of those restrictions. In “Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19” the following framework is provided in respect of further and higher education: ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Nursing Staff (24 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: While neither I nor my Department have a role in relation to financial supports for student nurses and midwives on clinical placements arranged by the relevant higher education institutions with health service providers, I am concerned at the difficulties faced by some students arising from the Covid-19 pandemic. Therefore, I asked my officials to raise the matter directly with the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Institutions (24 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: The data quoted is taken from the HEI staff profiles by gender and the HEA collects the data to monitor these trends. The HEA National Review of Gender Equality in Irish Higher Education and the Gender Equality Taskforce Action Plan 2018 – 2020 set out recommendations for higher education institutions (HEIs), and other relevant stakeholders, to ensure the achievement of gender equality...

Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Statements (19 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: I very much welcome the opportunity to update the House on some of the work of the new Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science just under five months on from its creation and the formation of the Government. I very much appreciate the support and interest from all sides of the Oireachtas for a new stand-alone Department to place a renewed focus on the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (19 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 267 and 278 together. I am conscious of the difficulties being experienced by students and their families as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, and of the importance of the Student Grant Scheme and related supports, such as the Student Assistance Fund and the Fund for Students with Disabilities. These supports have a fundamental role in assisting students and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Functions (19 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: In June 2020, it was announced by the Taoiseach that certain science and research functions would transfer from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.  The two Departments have been working closely to agree the details and arrangements for the transfer of functions, and it is anticipated...