Results 10,961-10,980 of 46,456 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (28 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 193 and 196 together. I appreciate that this is a time of considerable stress and concern for third level students and the challenging and stressful circumstances that students are facing are being taken into account by Higher Education institutions as they adapt and respond to the changing situation. This includes the consideration of issues around work...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (28 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: The fee payable by a student can vary depending on a variety factors including the type of course and the student's access route including previous education. Higher education institutions are autonomous institutions as provided for in legislation. The determination, as to the total level of fees to be charged for postgraduate course is a matter for each institution in accordance with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (28 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: Matters relating to the introduction of a scheme to provide for tuition fee funding to students in return for future clinical years in the HSE is matter for the Department of Health. It is important to reflect upon the supports provided to students and the basis of the fees charged by institutions. The fee payable by a student can vary depending on a variety factors including the type of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Institutions (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: All of the information sought by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department and in some cases is not easily accessible due to the restrictions currently in place as a result of the current public health crisis. However, the information is currently being collated, insofar as possible, and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: I announced the appointment last year of a programme executive director to progress relevant aspects of the TUSEI consortium’s proposals to develop a technological university in the south east, however the appointment was made by the TUSEI consortium comprising IT Carlow and Waterford IT. As such, the Deputy’s queries should be directed to and are matters for the consortium.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Assistance Fund (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: The information requested by the Deputy is in the attached file. The file includes the allocations to each HEI and net payments made by the HEA to HEIs in respect of Student Assistance Fund in academic years 2019/20 and 2020/21, which takes into accounts balances in HEIs. Expenditure by individual HEIs in 2019/20, as reported to the HEA, is also included. The amount of funding given to each...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 582 and 584 together. According to a HEA report on supply and demand of student accommodation published in 2017, in 2014 the breakdown of HEI-owned and privately owned student accommodation was as follows: HEI-owned Private Total 11,114 20,182 31,296 My Department began tracking the completion of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: This information is not available in my Department, as information on rent paid by students for purpose-built student accommodation is not collected.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: The fee payable by a student can vary depending on a variety factors including the type of course and the student's access route including previous education. Higher education institutions are autonomous institutions as provided for in legislation. The determination, as to the total level of fees to be charged for undergraduate and postgraduate course is a matter for each institution in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Assistance Fund (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: I am conscious of the challenges faced by students regarding student accommodation this year due to both financial pressures, and the blended learning format of the 2020/21 academic year. The Deputy will be aware that the university sector has been actively engaging with students on the issue of accommodation refunds. As a result of the decision to minimise on-site teaching, all...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: 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 academic year. The funding was provided in Budget 2021, in recognition of the exceptional situation they have experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Financial assistance will be provided to all SUSI...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: Universities and Institutes of Technology are autonomous and determine their own procedures for admission. The CAO process applications for undergraduate, and some postgraduate, courses on their behalf. Decisions on admissions are made by the higher education institutions who then instruct the CAO to make offers to successful candidates. Therefore neither I nor my Department have a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 589 and 590 together. I am conscious of the impact that Covid-19 is having on the leaving certificate class of 2021, and will take action as necessary to ensure that a full range of further and higher education options are available to them. In 2020 more students than ever before were offered a place in higher education with more than 49,000 accepting...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Reports (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 591 and 593 together. The Projections of Demand for Full-Time Third-Level Education 2018 – 2040, published in November 2018, are the most recent projections currently available for higher education. It is intended to publish an updated set of projections for higher education later this year. The scenarios outlined in the projections are driven...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: The latest year for which finalised enrolment figures are available is the 2018/2019 academic year. Enrolments for 2018, along with enrolments for 2017 which were used as the baseline for the Projections of Demand for Full-Time Third-Level Education are attached. These figures are taken from the statistics section of the HEA's website:

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 594 and 595 together. In considering this issue, it is important to note that the State currently provides very substantial financial support to undergraduate students in higher education towards the cost of their studies. This support has played a very significant role in facilitating access to and growth in higher education. What was previously the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Local Authority Funding (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: Prior to the establishment of Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), the Student Grant Scheme was administered by the Educational Training Boards and Local Authorities. Undergraduate students whose application for student grant commenced with the Local authorities prior to 2012 remain with the Local authority. The local authorities continue to process renewal applications on a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are governed by the Universities Act 1997, the Institutes of Technologies Acts 1992 to 2006 and the Technological Universities Act 2018. Within the meaning of these Acts, HEIs are autonomous bodies and are responsible for their own day-to-day management and operational affairs including dealing with policy and procedure in relation to fee collection. My...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: At present, the Level 5 measures designate higher and further education as essential insofar as onsite presence is required for education activities that cannot be held remotely. In overall terms, the sectors have rapidly adjusted to a more restrictive environment again, with all further and higher education institutions conducting the vast majority of their provision online. The balance...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 599, 602, 605, 606, 607, 610 and 611 together. I am aware that issues have arisen in relation to placement hours both for students of Social Care programmes and for placements more generally as the restrictions to combat the spread of Covid-19 have tightened. My Department is monitoring developments in this regard very closely. From the onset of the Covid-19...