Results 10,561-10,580 of 45,539 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Erasmus+ Programme (20 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: All higher education institutions that participate in the Erasmus+ programme must hold an Erasmus Charter. In signing this Charter, the HEI confirms that its participation in Erasmus+ is part of its own strategy for modernisation and internationalisation. A key aspect to the Erasmus Charter is the promotion of measures that ensure the safety of outgoing and incoming mobile participants....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Brexit Issues (20 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: As part of the Common Travel Area between Ireland and the UK, students from Ireland and the UK, including Northern Ireland, will continue to access higher education as currently applies. This means that they will continue to be treated the same as students in the other jurisdiction and they will continue to have access to SUSI grants, subject to the current eligibility requirements. ...

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

Simon Harris: As Minister, I believe that a key part of my role is to highlight the world leading research and innovation being carried out by our higher education institutions, and to ensure that both Government and my colleagues in the Oireachtas are informed by and engage with the research and the researchers. In recent years the Irish Research Council (IRC) and Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) have...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Climate Action Plan (20 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science will be progressing a range of initiatives in education and research in 2021 to advance targets in relation to emissions reduction. For example, in the further education sector, €8m has been allocated to support the development of retrofit-specific skills initiatives. This will provide up to 500...

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: School Accommodation (20 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 114, 115, 480, 485 and 504 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 reduced so long as these measures are in place. Campuses will remain open to facilitate learners and researchers attendance for laboratory,...

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

Simon Harris: My Department is closely monitoring any potential impact that the events of this year 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 have accepted a...

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

Simon Harris: The objective of the statutory based 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 grants purposes, students are categorised according to their...

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

Simon Harris: The student in question submitted an appeal to the independent Student Grant Appeals Board. The Board considered the appeal on 6 October 2020 and based on the supporting documentation submitted with the appeal the Board accepted the documentation as sufficient proof of parental separation. As a result the Board overturned the decision of the appeals officer in SUSI and referred the case back...

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...