Results 10,461-10,480 of 45,539 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (4 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: On 25th September intensified protective measures in third level were announced, in line with public health advice. On-site activity in further and higher education will be minimised so long as these measures are in place. Campuses will remain open to facilitate learners and researchers in accessing laboratories, practicals and apprenticeship training, scheduled library attendance and small...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Springboard Programme (4 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: Under the July Stimulus, funding was announced for short modular courses to be offered in a flexible manner, allowing people to gain important skills without taking a considerable period away from the labour market. Each module will be stand-alone so that participants can gain skills and put them into practice immediately in the workplace, but modules are also accredited in such a way as...

General Practitioner Contract: Statements (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: I am happy to clarify this matter if it saves time later. The only inquiries I ever made were about when we would be ready to publish the contract on the Department of Health's website and I do not believe I ever had coffee with that person.

General Practitioner Contract: Statements (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: Deputy Doherty made two specific references to me during the debate and out of respect to him, and to the fact that the record of this House stands for evermore, I want to respond briefly to both. There is nothing wrong with having lunch or a coffee with anyone, but for the record I did not. On the date he referenced, 12 April, I was at an East Coast FM charity event right throughout my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 989, 1003, 1022, 1025 and 1037 together. On 25th September intensified protective measures in third level were announced, in line with public health advice. On-site activity in further and higher education will be minimised so long as these measures are in place. Campuses will remain open to facilitate learners and researchers in accessing laboratories,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Institutions (3 Nov 2020)

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 Universal Support Ireland (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: In 2020, my Department will spend over €400m on access measures for students. This includes circa €350m on student grants and related activities, which is expected to benefit over 70,000 further and higher education students I recently announced details of a €168m funding package for the return to education. This includes €15m in IT equipment grants for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Assistance Fund (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: The Deputy will be aware of the recently announced €168m funding package for the return to education. This package includes a €10m access support package for higher education students. I have approved the allocation of €8.1m of this funding to top up the Student Assistance Fund (SAF). This is an increase in this fund of 100%. The remaining €1.9m funding will...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: I think it is important to note the range of additional supports which have been put in place for students as part of Budget 2021 and as part of the Government's Covid response earlier this year. - I have doubled the level of funding available in the Student Assistance Fund for this academic year; - I have increased the level of funding for the 1916 Bursary Fund (also known as...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 996 and 998 together. A detailed and comprehensive three-pillar guidance framework has been put in place to underpin a blended model of provision in higher and further education for the 2020/21 academic year. The approach is strongly aligned with the public health requirements and for shaping the work of institutions and providers in a manner which is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, 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. Students should confirm the fees position with the fees office in the institution attending. Under the Department’s free fees schemes, the Exchequer provides funding toward the tuition fee costs...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (3 Nov 2020)

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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland (3 Nov 2020)

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 the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1001, 1021, 1027 and 1028 together. 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 will be online for this semester. In recognition of the challenges facing full time third level students the Government has approved once off...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Institutions (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1004 and 1016 together. It is important to note in relation to this issue that under the Free Fees Schemes the Exchequer currently makes a very substantial contribution amounting to €340m to meeting the tuition fee costs of eligible undergraduate Higher Education students with those students who are required to pay the student contribution paying...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Nursing Education (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: The estimated additional cost of an additional 250 student places for a one year intake is €1,875,000. The estimated cost for onecohort of the respective students for all years of a course (four years on average) is estimated at €7,500,000. These are the estimated costs to my Department based an average of funding currently provided through the HEA (€7,500 per student)...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Traveller Education (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: The third National Access Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education (2015 -2019) (NAP) identifies Irish Travellers as one of the target groups that are currently being under-represented in higher education. The vision of the National Access Plan is to ensure that the student body entering into, participating in and completing higher education at all levels reflects the diversity and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for the centralised student grant awarding authority Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) to determine. For student grants purposes, students are categorised according to their circumstances either as students dependent on parents or a legal guardian, or as independent mature students. Being a dependent student means that your...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1008, 1013 and 1029 together. In providing guidance for higher education providers to return to learning safely for the 2020/21 academic year, my Department published a three-pillar guidance framework, consistent with public health requirements. This included an adaptation framework to assist institutions to continuously adapt to meet the challenges posed by...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: English Language Training Organisations (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Harris: My Department has no plans at present for the implementation of blended learning in the English language education sector. The Government’s Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021 Plan for Living with COVID-19 sets out the Framework for Restrictive Measures in Response to COVID-19 for adult education which includes English Language Education (ELE) as open with protective measures at...