Results 10,541-10,560 of 45,539 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland (20 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: The purpose of the Student Grant Scheme is to provide additional assistance where parental income is below a certain threshold, or in the case of independent mature students, where the level of income of the student and his or her spouse warrants additional assistance by way of a grant. For student grant purposes, students are categorised according to their circumstances either as...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (20 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: I appreciate that this is a year unlike any other for students, and that the accommodation needs of students have been significantly altered by the impact of Covid-19 on higher education. My Department, in consultation with these key stakeholders will continue to monitor the situation relating to student accommodation closely. I understand, based on the information available to me, that a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions (20 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: My Department is closely monitoring any potential impact that the results of Leaving Certificate 2020 may have on entry to further and higher education in 2021. This year more students than ever before were offered a place in higher education, with 52% of these students being offered their first preference Level 8 course in Round One. As of the end of Round Two, more than 49,000 students...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme (20 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: I have made clear from day one that access and inclusion are at the core of my vision for my new Department. My Department will spend well over €400 million on student supports in 2020 including the SUSI scheme. As part of Budget 2021, I have secured an additional €20 million to provide for additional applicants, €6 million to expand supports to postgraduate...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Institutions (20 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware the Government has provided substantial additional funding in the amount of €168m to ensure third level institutions are resourced to respond to the challenges of operating effectively in the current environment. For the education providers under the remit of my Department, the allocation includes funding towards immediate ICT costs relating to the move to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme (20 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: There are two important points to make about the treatment of the Family Income Supplement, also known as the Working Family Payment, under the SUSI scheme. First, the supplement is treated as an income disregard and is therefore not included in the calculation of reckonable income. Second, and unlike other social protection payments which are paid to individuals, the Working Family...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Budget 2021 (20 Oct 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 PATH 2) to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (20 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: The development and progression of technological universities is an established policy objective of Government in the context of overarching national strategy on higher education landscape restructuring and this is underscored in the commitment in the current Programme for Government. Under the statutory framework provided in the Technological Universities Act 2018, two or more IoTs may...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (20 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: I am conscious of the challenges faced by students regarding student accommodation this year due to financial pressures and the blended learning format of the 2020/21 academic year. Responding to these issues is a significant matter of concern for myself and for my colleague the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and we are examining how accommodation providers can be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Budget 2021 (20 Oct 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 will be online for 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (20 Oct 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 reduced so long as these measures are in place. Campuses will remain open to facilitate learners and researchers attendance for laboratory, practical and apprenticeship training, scheduled library attendance and small...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Staff (20 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: 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 the training and typically include teaching. Teaching contribution assists in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (20 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: 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 this pandemic. Further to this framework, the higher...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Staff (20 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 107 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 the training and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (20 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: I am committed to ensuring that a broad range of education and training opportunities are available both to students leaving school and to those whose livelihoods have been impacted by the current pandemic and are looking to upskill or reskill. This year more students than ever before were offered a place in higher education through the CAO, with 63,338 applicants having received a CAO...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (20 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 101, 102 and 481 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: Covid-19 Pandemic (20 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: To support higher education providers to return to learning safely for the 2020/21 academic year, my Department published its three-pillar guidance framework, which consisted of a high-level roadmap, a COVID-19 adaptation framework, and practical guidance for returning to on-site activity. This unique three-pillar approach was developed in close consultation with agencies, stakeholders,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (20 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: I appreciate that this year has been a difficult one for students, and my Department has been working with representatives from the higher education sector to address the challenges faced by students. All seven universities have confirmed that students who vacated their university-owned student accommodation prior to the end of the 2019/2020 academic year due to Covid-19 will receive...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme (20 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: 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 families who are putting their children through further...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Civil Service (20 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) is running a pilot programme which is designed to attain the objectives which the Deputy outlines. The SFI Public Service Fellowship, which was launched in 2019, offers researchers a unique opportunity to be seconded to Government Departments, Agencies and the Oireachtas Library and Research Services, to work on specific research projects. The Fellowships...