Results 1-20 of 43 for "direct provision" speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: ...period for access to the labour market to 3 months as recommended by the Catherine Day Report, the reduction of the waiting period to 6 months was guided by the Report of the Inter-Departmental Group on Direct Provision and the Review of Access to the Labour Market for persons seeking international protection. The review of access to the labour market also recommended that the changes...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seekers (28 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: ...period for access to the labour market to 3 months as recommended by the Catherine Day Report, the reduction of the waiting period to 6 months was guided by the Report of the Inter-Departmental Group on Direct Provision and the Review of Access to the Labour Market for persons seeking international protection. The review of access to the labour market also recommended that the changes...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Provision of Education Supports for Ukrainian Students (1 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: ...right. A universities of sanctuary initiative is run through a number of universities. We have made significant changes to the level of financial support available and made it easier for people in direct provision to qualify for support in higher education. However, I also want to be honest with the Deputy. We have the Dr. Catherine Day report on this issue and we are not where we need...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: ...third level;  - The allocation of €10 million for students with disabilities;  - Ringfenced funding to increase participation in third level for the Travelling Community;  - and removing barriers to people living in direct provision accessing student grants.  My Department will continue to keep existing provision and initiatives under review.  We want to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions (1 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: The Deputy will be aware that my Department made a commitment in the White Paper to end Direct Provision that  "International Protection applicants who are currently in the system and who are resident in Ireland for 3 years will be facilitated in accessing third-level education by means of their eligibility for support under the Student Support Scheme run by DFHERIS, which provides a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Policies (22 Jun 2021)

Simon Harris: ...in the same way as other applications. As international protection applicants do not have an entitlement to income support from the Department of Social Protection, apart from that relating to direct provision, the payment of a training allowance, in lieu of such a payment will not apply. The daily expense allowance is not an eligible payment for VTOS. Following the letter referred to by...

Residential Tenancies (Student Rents and Other Protections) (Covid-19) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (28 Apr 2021)

Simon Harris: ...the House often debate all that is good and bad about our higher education sector but we cannot leave behind those who study in further or community education. Through my work in the Department I have seen women living in direct provision travelling from Leitrim to Tallaght to access the incredible services of An Cosan. I have seen the women of SAOL in inner city Dublin recovering from...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Asylum Seekers (20 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: ...in August to the student support scheme which was welcomed by the Irish Refugee Council. I do not see this as the end. The expert group report which is looking at the whole issue of asylum direct provision and chaired by Dr. Catherine Day came to Cabinet today and is due to be published tomorrow. The Minister, Deputy O’Gorman, is due to produce a White Paper on international...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Minister with responsibility for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Harris: ..., staff and the quality of education during this time. We have more to do in that regard. Within my first few weeks of taking office, we have made changes to the student support scheme for people living in direct provision. We introduced mandatory consent classes for incoming students. I hope that is an area this committee could examine. The level of sexual violence that is still...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Third Level Fees (9 Sep 2020)

Simon Harris: .... We also made sure that there was a flexibility in SUSI in terms of a sudden change in a family's income arising from Covid. It is also why we changed the rules relating to supports for people in direct provision to access SUSI grants as well. Let me be clear: I fully accept that there is more that needs to be done. The programme for Government references the need for a fundamental...

Back to School, Further and Higher Education and Special Education: Statements (3 Sep 2020)

Simon Harris: ...scheme this year understands the fact the people's income can have changed during the year as a result of Covid-19. I met with SUSI on this recently, and also on making changes for people living in direct provision. Any other announcements about the review, grant limits and so on will be for the budget next month.

Back to School, Further and Higher Education and Special Education: Statements (3 Sep 2020)

Simon Harris: ...it opened in April. This is over 2,000 extra applications compared to this time last year, reflecting the changes Covid has enforced on people. As colleagues may be aware, I announced changes to the support scheme for students living in direct provision, with certain rules being relaxed and the scheme being placed on a long-term footing. I want to see an end to direct provision - so...

Ministers and Secretaries and Ministerial, Parliamentary, Judicial and Court Offices (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (24 Jul 2020)

Simon Harris: ...divide. I look forward to working genuinely with them in that regard. The purpose of the Department becomes clear when one visits places such as An Cosán in Jobstown, as I did the week before last. I met people who are in direct provision and travel from Carrick-on-Suir to Jobstown to complete their studies. The Government wishes to shut down direct provision and come up with a...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (11 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: The Deputy has raised children, residents in nursing homes, direct provision, meat factories and highlighted the inequalities in society-----

Written Answers — Department of Health: Direct Provision System (9 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: Both my Department and the HSE are committed to protecting the identity and medical confidentiality of direct provision residents, as required by law, and therefore do not give specific information about individuals or locations. Information on cases or outbreaks of any illness (COVID-19 or otherwise) is provided only if there is a public health reason to do so. However, I have asked the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (27 May 2020)

Simon Harris: Responsibility for international protection applicants and the operation of the direct provision services referred to in the question are the responsibility of the Department of Justice and Equality. As part of the whole-of-government direct provision support system the Department of Justice and Equality provides accommodation, food and utilities to those seeking international protection in...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Direct Provision System (20 May 2020)

Simon Harris: Both my Department and the HSE are committed to protecting the identity and medical confidentiality of direct provision residents, as required by law, and therefore do not give specific information about individuals or locations.  Information on cases or outbreaks of any illness (COVID-19 or otherwise) is provided only if there is a public health reason to do so.

Covid-19 (Health) - Statements (14 May 2020)

Simon Harris: ...have had, perhaps, a different experience from that of the Deputy, but I will write to her about it. I am happy to engage with the sector on the €35 million scheme. I will write to her about the direct provision letter.

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (7 May 2020)

Simon Harris: ...plan, the criteria that I now report against talk about how we "protect" and "shield". The short answer is that I am going to be conscious not to use it, as the Deputy requests. In regard to direct provision, guidance was drawn up by the HPSC and a group was set up specifically on vulnerable users, including those in direct provision. The advice is very clear.

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (7 May 2020)

Simon Harris: ...additional facilities to support physical distancing measures. I will send the Deputy my note on the issue so as not to take up Deputy Paul Murphy's time. Deputy Smith asked about the issue of direct provision and Cahersiveen. I had a meeting yesterday with the Minister for Justice and Equality, his Department officials, Department of Health officials and the HSE on direct provision....