Results 10,541-10,560 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

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

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 472 to 476, inclusive, together. As the Deputy will be aware a Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) Working Group was established in March 2017. The key objective of this group was to develop a plan to develop a sustainable future for the Mayo Campus arising from concerns about the financial viability of the campus. The Governing Authority of GMIT in...

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

Simon Harris: The main support available to students is the statutory based Student Grant Scheme. Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those which relate to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. The decision on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Victim Support Services (20 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: I am greatly concerned by the issues of sexual harassment and assaults within higher education institutions. Our higher education institutions have a duty of care to their students and staff, and a responsibility to foster a campus culture that is clear in the condemnation of unwanted and unacceptable behaviours, which act as barriers to their safety and their active participation in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Mental Health Services (20 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: The mental health of our students is a priority for my Department, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the increased mental stress and pressure resulting from it. In this regard earlier this year, I secured a comprehensive package of financial support in the amount of €168m for the Higher Education and Further Education and Training sector to mitigate against the direct...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: International Students (20 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: The possession of adequate health insurance is a requirement of our immigration services, in order to protect the exchequer from potentially substantial additional costs for the public health system in managing the health needs of a large number of people from outside the EU. My Department, in its role as Chair of the High Level Group on International Education, has engaged extensively...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (20 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are autonomous and manage their own academic affairs including admissions procedures. The CAO processes applications for undergraduate courses on behalf of the HEIs. Decisions on admissions are made by the HEIs who then instruct the CAO to make offers to successful candidates. As such, neither I nor my Department have a role in the operation of the CAO. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Medical Research and Training (20 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: Innovation 2020, Ireland’s current national research and innovation strategy, has committed to developing the national network of Research Centres. Over the past several years Ireland has built up significant research capability through medical research focused on enabling Research Centres, Technology Centres and Technology Gateways. In the medtech sector, these centres include:...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Medical Research and Training (20 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: Building capacity to respond to challenges and opportunities and to remain competitive is done through sustained investment over many years. Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) is Ireland’s largest competitive funding agency. SFI is committed to building this capacity in 2021 by continuing to place a priority on maintaining a balanced portfolio which places an emphasis on early and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Medical Research and Training (20 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: Science Foundation Ireland has commenced a programme to support advanced skills and training (PhDs), in collaboration with industry, for the new economy. The agency has invested over €100m in 6 SFI Centres for Research Training. The 6 SFI Centres for Research Training will provide training for over 700 postgraduate students (over a lifetime of 7.5 years) in the areas of Machine...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Bullying in Educational Institutions (20 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: Our higher education institutions are autonomous bodies within the meaning of their legislation and the management of their affairs are matters for the individual institutions. However, it is incumbent upon the institutions to have in place proper policies and procedures which provide a mechanism for staff and students to resolve any grievances and complaints they may have with regard to...

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

Simon Harris: I appreciate that during these challenging times access to education is more important than ever, and I have taken steps to increase the number of places available. This September more students than ever before were offered a place in higher education through the CAO, with 63,338 applicants having received a CAO offer as of the end of Round Two, the latest round for which this data is...

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

Simon Harris: The CAO is a company established by Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to process applications for undergraduate, and some postgraduate, courses on their behalf. Decisions on admissions are made by the HEIs who then instruct the CAO to make offers to successful candidates. Therefore application and offer data is held by the CAO, not by my Department. According to data released by the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research and Development (20 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: Innovation 2020, the current national strategy for research and development, science and technology, acknowledges the importance of the pipeline of skilled and talented individuals playing a critical factor in innovation. From pre-primary through to further and higher education and throughout an individual’s career, skills and knowledge need to be continuously enhanced if individuals,...

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

Simon Harris: Under the terms of the Student Grant 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 assessment of means under the Scheme is based on gross income from all sources before the deduction of income...

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

Simon Harris: The provision of funding to for Higher Education on an annual basis is part of overall expenditure management and budgetary policy. Queries in relation to the overall expenditure on Higher Education in relation to the national budget are more appropriate for the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Government Funding for Higher Education: In recent Government funding has demonstrably...

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

Simon Harris: I am not aware of any plans to build a new higher education institution on the northside of Cork city. However, my Department continues to work collaboratively with CIT (soon to become part of Munster Technological University with IT Tralee) and UCC in the development of capital projects in line with their established masterplans. Higher education building projects in Cork supported by my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (20 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: Following the conclusion of the review of the code used to generate Calculated Grades, improved Calculated Grades results were transmitted to the CAO on Saturday 3rdOctober. The CAO subsequently identified 485 students who were entitled to a higher preference CAO offer as a result of their improved grades. As of CAO Round 4, which was issued on Thursday 8thOctober, all of these students have...

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

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 499 and 500 together. Higher Education providers are autonomous institutions with responsibility for the day to day operations and requirements of students and staff. The provision of breastfeeding spaces is a matter for individual institutions in accordance with the relevant guidelines. My Department does not have any role in this matter. I would expect...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Offices (20 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation & Science is presently temporarily accommodated at the Department of Education’s office campuses. I am informed that there are presently no dedicated facilities for breastfeeding or expressing milk as no request for such a facility has been currently made by a member of staff. I can assure the Deputy that...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Disability Support Services (20 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: Higher education institutions are autonomous bodies and as such are academically independent and are entitled to regulate their own academic affairs and administrative processes. As providers, it is the responsibility of each higher education institution (HEI) to put in place appropriate supports to ensure that the needs of students of disabilities are met. Each HEI has an access and...