Results 10,641-10,660 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Springboard Programme (7 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: Springboard+ complements the core State-funded education and training system and provides recent graduates with either free or 90% funded upskilling and reskilling higher education opportunities in areas of identified skills need. One-year full-time and two-year part-time ICT Skills Conversion courses, which are funded through Springboard+, are open to the unemployed, returners to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme (6 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: The principal support provided by the Department of Education and Skills in financial terms is the student grant scheme, which makes available means-tested financial assistance to students in further and higher education. Under the terms of the student grant scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students on full-time courses who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those which...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Language Schools (6 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: English language education (ELE) in Ireland is a broad and diverse sector with the vast majority of activity undertaken by private sector providers. I am aware of the challenges that are being encountered in the ELE sector and the substantial impact that the Covid-19 outbreak has had on its students, teachers and providers. As part of the response to the pandemic, my Department established a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (6 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. Throughout the last number of months my Department has been engaging with representatives from the higher education sector to address the challenges faced by students in this difficult time. My Department, in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Support Schemes (6 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: The main support available to students is the statutory based Student Grant Scheme where students are studying for the first time or are progressing to study at a higher level e.g. progressing to postgraduate study. To qualify for grant support, a student has to meet various criteria such as means, residency, nationality and progression. As part of the package of COVID supports for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (6 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: On 25th September intensified protective measures in third level were announced, in line with public health advice. This has meant that on-site activity will be minimised so long as these measures are in place. While I appreciate that this may be disappointing for students who had hoped to have as much time on campus as possible, these measures are necessary if the spread of the Coronavirus...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Nursing Education (6 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 575 and 576 together. In order to help mitigate the impact of the changes to the grading system I announced the creation of an additional 2,225 places on high-demand courses in Higher Education Institutions. These places were provided in order ensure that as many students as possible could be accommodated on a course of their choice, given the unprecedented...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (6 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: Under the Department’s free fees schemes, the Exchequer provides funding toward the tuition fee costs of eligible undergraduate Higher Education students with students paying the student contribution. The student contribution fee is currently set at €3,000 per annum and can be paid in instalments. The State pays the contribution in full or part, through SUSI, for approximately...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Nursing Education (6 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: Any financial supports for student nurses and midwives on clinical placements arranged by the relevant higher education institutions with health service providers are matters for the Health Service Executive and neither i nor my Department has a role in this regard. However, I am concerned at the difficulties faced by those students who find themselves in the types of situation described by...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: EU Directives (6 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: My Department has not incurred any fines as a result of non-transposition of EU Directives into Irish law in the last ten year period.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (6 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy is aware, matters relating to 2021 funding form part of budgetary discussions that are currently ongoing between the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and other Government Departments and Offices. I am liaising closely with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform as part of this process to secure additional funding for the Further and Higher Education sectors,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland (6 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: Under the terms of the student grant scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those which relate to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. The nationality requirements for the student grant scheme are set out in section 14 of the Student Support Act 2011 and regulation 5 of the Student Support Regulations...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Support Schemes (6 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) have been undertaking detailed planning and contingencies for their re-opening and communicating these to students, moving from emergency remote learning towards a mode of blended learning, combining both online and onsite provision. In July I announced a €168 million funding package to support the sector and students, including a €15 million...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: International Students (6 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: Higher Education Institutions are autonomous bodies and are responsible for their own day-to-day management and operational affairs, including the management of academic affairs. They retain the right to determine their own policies and procedures including the matters you have raised. The determination of international status and level of fee payable is a matter for the relevant institution...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Contracts (6 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: The Department has not engaged a third party to conduct online or social media monitoring.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (6 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: The information requested by the Deputy is provided in the following table. The regulations governing sick leave in the Public Service are SI 124 of 2014. Limits for sick leave are 92 days full pay in a rolling one year period followed by 91 days on half pay subject to a maximum of 183 days in a rolling four year period. The figures provide below are in relation to the Department of Education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme (6 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: Under the terms of the student grant scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those which relate to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. The nationality requirements for the student grant scheme are set out in section 14 of the Student Support Act 2011 and regulation 5 of the Student Support Regulations...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland (1 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: The student grant scheme, administered by SUSI, provides maintenance grants to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. Student maintenance grants are payable at either the adjacent or non-adjacent rate. The distance to be measured is the shortest non-tolled most direct route from...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions (1 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are autonomous with regard to management of their academic affairs including admissions procedures. The CAO process 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland (1 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: Under the terms of the student grant scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. With regard to the residency criterion, in order to be eligible for a grant, a "student", as defined in Section 14 of the Student Support Act 2011, must demonstrate...