Ninth Level Ireland

“The Department of Higher Education has launched a public consultation reviewing SUSI, with submissions closing on April 16th. The terms of reference of the public consultation include reviewing SUSI eligibility criteria, reviewing income thresholds, review of the SUSI maintenance grant, comparison of student supports with other European countries, examination of costs for postgraduate students and determining the real cost of attending higher education in Ireland …” (more)

[Sárán Fogarty, University Times, 18 March]

“Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael): I am delighted to be here today again addressing Dáil Éireann on the work of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. We have been working very hard in recent months to establish a new Department. Indeed, the Department was only formally set up in law last August and we have tried to pursue an ambitious agenda of work since then …” (more)

[Dáil debates, 10 March]

“Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD has today marked International Women’s Day by launching the National Gender Equality Dashboard for Higher Education Institutions. The dashboard, developed by Maynooth University, provides an invaluable resource on gender equality in Higher Education Institutions …” (more)

[gov.ie, 8 March]

“Last November, Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris said that current legislation regarding higher education governance is ‘not fit for purpose and does not reflect the world in which we live’ – his bullish solution to this issue, however, overreaches and is a threat to Trinity as we know it …” (more)

[University Times, 7 March]

“The way in which students apply for third-level education is to be overhauled to include a connected system for a wider range of further education options and apprenticeships. The new process has been announced as part of the publication of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science’s three-year plan …” (more)

[RTÉ News, 8 March]

“Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris and Minister of State for Further Education and Skills Niall Collins have today launched a three-year strategy for the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science …” (more)

[gov.ie, 8 March]

“Economy Minister Diane Dodds is to meet the Republic’s Higher Education Minister to discuss NI students taking part in the Erasmus scheme for European study. UK students can no longer participate in the Erasmus programme, which funds third-level academic study in the EU and other projects …” (more)

[Margaret Canning, Belfast Telegraph, 4 February]

“The government will this year consider passing a bill that would give the Minister for Higher Education the power to suspend and replace the governing body of state-funded universities, if there are very serious concerns about how the institution is operating …” (more)

[Cormac Watson, University Times, 28 January]

“Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD, has today re-affirmed Government’s commitment to a Technological University for the South East. Minister Harris was speaking at a new Regional Engagement Advisory Group, attended by Presidents of IT Carlow and WIT and business leaders for the area …” (more)

[gov.ie, 28 January]

“Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael): With the agreement of the House, I will share my time with the Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins. I welcome the opportunity to update the House on the impact of Covid-19 on the further and higher education sector. I was a little disappointed that, for the first time in my political career, some Members of the Dáil actually voted not to have me here today for questions and answers. I find that a little bit regrettable, as almost half a million people in this country are in further or higher education …” (more)

[Dáil debates, 14 January]

“Christopher O’Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for [Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science] the main policy initiatives undertaken by his Department since 27 June 2020; and his main priorities for 2021 …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 14 January]

“Minister for Further and Higher Education, Simon Harris TD, has confirmed a new working group will be established to examine how to enhance student wellbeing. The group will be chaired by the Union of Students in Ireland and will be tasked with identifying, refining and implementing strategies to enhance learner engagement and wellbeing …” (more)

[gov.ie, 14 January]

“The Minister Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD, has today (13 January 2021) extended the closing date for expressions of interest from suitably qualified and experienced candidates for consideration for nomination as Chairperson of the first Governing Body of Munster Technological University (MTU) to 9 February 2021 …” (more)

[gov.ie, 13 January]

“Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris TD has today confirmed further restriction of onsite third level activity in response to the deteriorating COVID-19 situation. Further and higher education are operating primarily online with most activities delivered remotely during this academic year …” (more)

[gov.ie, 6 January]

“Unite the Union – which represents technical staff in College – has strongly condemned a ‘lack of leadership’ in Trinity, after it announced today that staff and students would be notified about arrangements for the second semester ‘by Friday’. Cieran Perry, the secretary of Trinity’s Unite the Union house committee, said that the union was ‘very disappointed with the lack of leadership from the college’ …” (more)

[Cormac Watson, University Times, 5 January]

“Before Christmas, Ireland’s new Department for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science embarked on a consultation about its strategy for 2021-23. Like most other departments, the Department of Theoretical Physics at Maynooth made a collective submission to this consultation and we await further developments …” (more)

[In the Dark, 4 January]

“The Minister for Education Norma Foley TD and Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science today announced the publication of Education Indicators 2020 – a special report which sets out to provide a comprehensive set of educational indicators for the education system in Ireland. The data in the report cover all levels of education …” (more)

[Department of Education, 28 December]

“Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills cad iad na pleananna atá ag a Roinn chun seirbhísí faoina riar a chur ar fáil trí Ghaeilge, chun cur le líon na seirbhísí atá ar fáil trí Ghaeilge faoina riar, agus chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn, le linn 2021 …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 16 December]

“Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he is satisfied that the budget for his Department is adequate to meet the anticipated requirements throughout 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 10 December]

“The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has today launched a consultation on the work of the new department. The department is drafting its Statement of Strategy 2021-2023, which will set out how the department does its work over the next three years, and what its guiding principles are …” (more)

[gov.ie, 2 December]