Results 10,861-10,880 of 45,539 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Institutes of Technology (9 Sep 2020)

Simon Harris: The Athlone Institute of Technology STEM building project will be delivered as part of the first bundle of projects in the Higher Education PPP Programme. The project is currently out to tender. Construction is expected to commence during Q4 2021. In the current environment, where there is a requirement for public health measures, including social distancing, to address the COVID-19...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Institutes of Technology (9 Sep 2020)

Simon Harris: Since the onset of Covid-19 in March, the Department, the Higher Education Authority and SOLAS have collaborated with key stakeholders from the sector to address the financial impacts of Covid 19 on the sector, including costs associated with the safe commencement of the 2020/21 academic year in line with Public Health advice. To alleviate the financial impact I have allocated...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (9 Sep 2020)

Simon Harris: Apprenticeship in Ireland has undergone significant reform and expansion over the past 5 years. Pre-existing apprenticeships were reviewed and renewed and the introduction of a new model of apprenticeship has resulted in the development of 33 new consortia-led apprenticeship programmes delivered in innovative ways across all sectors of the economy. The first doctorate-level apprenticeship...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (9 Sep 2020)

Simon Harris: The establishment of technological universities (TUs), including a TU in the Connacht Ulster region, is an important part of the Government’s higher education policy as underscored in the Programme for Government 2020. TUs will provide increased choices for students, an enhanced student experience and greater access for students in tackling educational disadvantage with TUs...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research and Development (9 Sep 2020)

Simon Harris: As Minister for the newly established Department for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, I believe that a key part of my role is highlight the world leading research and innovation being carried out by our institutions and research community, and to ensure that both Government and my colleagues in the Oireachtas are informed by and engage with the research and the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (9 Sep 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 of €3,000 per annum and can be paid in instalments. The state pays the contribution in full or part for an estimated 44 per cent of all students eligible for free fees funding...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research and Development (9 Sep 2020)

Simon Harris: The Irish Universities Association, working with the Technological Higher Education Association, is finalising a Researcher Career Framework in consultation with Government Departments, sectorial representatives and research funders. It is seeking to increase consistency in terms and conditions across funder sources, as well as in institutional good practice in researcher career development,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (9 Sep 2020)

Simon Harris: The establishment of technological universities (TUs) is an important part of the Government’s higher education policy as underscored in the Programme for Government 2020. Under the statutory framework detailed in the Technological Universities Act 2018, it is a matter, in the first instance, for the relevant Institutes of Technology participating in a TU development consortium to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Institutions (9 Sep 2020)

Simon Harris: On 5th April 2019 the Framework for Consent in Higher Education Institutions: “Safe, Respectful, Supportive and Positive – Ending Sexual Violence and Harassment in Irish Higher Education Institutions” was launched. The Framework aims to ensure the creation of an institutional campus culture which is safe, respectful and supportive. Institutions have a duty of care to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (9 Sep 2020)

Simon Harris: The proposal for a High Energy X-ray Computed Tomography for Additive Manufacturing, Automotive, Aerospace, & Heavy Industry was submitted to SFI under the 2018 SFI Infrastructure Programme Call. The Infrastructure Call supports the research community in building and sustaining the required infrastructural capacity to accomplish high quality, high impact and innovative research in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (9 Sep 2020)

Simon Harris: A fund for student devices worth €15 million was part of a €168 million package for further and higher education sectors to deal with the impacts of Covid-19. Funding of €10 million has been provided to the higher education sector and €5m to the Further Education and Training sector. The funding is being provided to eligible Higher Education Institutions...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Civil Service (9 Sep 2020)

Simon Harris: Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) is currently running a pilot programme which is designed to attain the objectives which the Deputy sets out. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Support Schemes (9 Sep 2020)

Simon Harris: UCC have received their allocation under the recently announced Once-Off COVID-19 Grant to support disadvantaged students in accessing ICT devices. UCC have opted to procure devices directly and it is anticipated that the procurement process will be completed in the coming weeks. Students should contact UCC directly for further information.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (9 Sep 2020)

Simon Harris: The process to secure a location for a higher education campus in Wexford, which is being led by IT Carlow, is ongoing. IT Carlow is, along with Waterford IT, a member of the Technological University of South East Ireland (TUSEI) TU development consortium, and it is envisaged that the Wexford campus would form part of a multi-campus TU in the event of its establishment. My Department...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland (9 Sep 2020)

Simon Harris: At the end of August, SUSI had received over 91,000 applications from students with over 67,500 students assessed as eligible for support for academic year 2020-21. In line with previous years, SUSI’s payment schedule is updated to coincide with college start dates. In accordance with legislation, to receive payment, students must be registered with their college and the college...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Mental Health Policy (9 Sep 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 I recently 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 financial...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Mental Health Policy (9 Sep 2020)

Simon Harris: Student counselling services are dedicated mental health support services available in all higher education institutions. They provide psychological counselling to students experiencing personal adjustment, developmental and/or psychological problems that require professional attention. They assist students in identifying and learning skills that will assist them to effectively meet their...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Institutions (9 Sep 2020)

Simon Harris: The development and progression of technological universities (TUs), including a TU in the Connacht Ulster region, is an important part of the Government’s higher education policy as underscored in the Programme for Government 2020. In this context the Government’s objective for the establishment of a university serving the north-west is being advanced through the Connacht...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions (9 Sep 2020)

Simon Harris: I appreciate that entry to higher education is a source of anxiety to many students this year, and I have taken steps to increase the number of places available in higher education. 1,250 additional places are being offered on certain high-demand undergraduate programmes. These extra places are focused on programmes that attract students across a range of CAO points levels, and this will...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme (9 Sep 2020)

Simon Harris: The decision on eligibility for student grant applications is a matter for the centralised grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland). For student grant purposes, students are categorised according to their circumstances either as students dependent on parents or a legal guardian, or as independent mature students. A student may be assessed as an...