Ninth Level Ireland

“All staff and students in higher education are to be surveyed on their experiences of sexual violence and sexual harassment during the coming weeks as part of a ‘zero tolerance’ initiative to create safe campuses for all. In addition, all colleges are being required to record and report cases of sexual harassment and bullying of staff and students on an annual basis …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 12 April]

“Sir, – Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris says that the issue of third-level funding has been ‘ducked and dodged for far too long’ (News, April 7th). He said that a final report is due within the next few months and that he won’t be seeking a dusty shelf for it. The Minister is well aware that action is long overdue and he has available to him the Hunt report from January 2011 and the Cassells report from March 2016 …” (more)

[Pat O’Brien, Irish Times, 9 April]

“Funding for Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) has more than doubled since 2018, according to figures provided in the Dáil by the Minister for Further Education. Asked about the capital expenditure the Government has committed to spending across higher education until 2027 under Project Ireland 2040, Minister Harris provided figures which showed that funding for WIT increased from €1.1 million in 2018 to over €3 million in 2020 …” (more)

[Jade Wilson, Waterford News and Star, 7 April]

“Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the data provided on foot of a recent freedom of information request (details supplied); the analysis his Department has carried out across third-level institutions which fall under the responsibility of his Department into the fining of students for the late payment of registration fees; if this issue will be examined as part of the ongoing review of Higher Education Authority legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dail written answers, 1 April]

“Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD today (Tuesday) invited expressions of interest from candidates for consideration for nomination as Ministerial Representatives of the Governing Body of Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) …” (more)

[MerrionStreet.ie, 3 April]

“Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris has spoken to University Chiefs over COVID-19 outbreaks amongst college students in Galway and Limerick which may delay the return to on-campus learning. Minutes released by Department officials after the meeting have outlined that the return of college students to on-campus accommodation with no face-to-face contact hours was a major concern, with recent behaviours having the potential to influence the policy that will be implemented in the coming academic year …” (more)

[Doireann O Sullivan, College Tribune, 6 April]

“Good afternoon to you all. And thank you for the invitation to address your annual conference. I am particularly conscious that this is the first opportunity I have had to speak with you at Congress and it is the first time that there has been a Cabinet Minister for a new Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science …” (more)

[MerrionStreet.ie, 6 April]

“Higher Education Minister Simon Harris has described Ireland’s third-level sector as ‘elitist’ and vowed to introduce a fully integrated system which caters for all. Mr Harris said the lack of an integrated system has led to skills shortages, inequality and high drop-out rates from higher education …” (more)

[Amy Molloy, Independent, 6 April]

“The issue of third-level funding has been ‘ducked and dodged for far too long’, Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris has said. With a final report on the future funding of the sector due within the next few months, Mr Harris said that he ‘didn’t intend to be dusting it or seeking a shelf to stick it on. I intend to act on it with Government colleagues and to engage with our stakeholders. You can have all the lofty ambitions and plans you want but to make them a reality we need to properly fund third-level education’ …” (more)

[Peter McGuire, Irish Times, 6 April]

“The Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris has warned that the lack of a fully integrated third level sector has fostered inequality, elitism, skills shortages, stress on students and high drop-out rates from higher education. He has also confirmed that his department is planning to introduce pilot schemes for rapid Covid-19 testing across third level education sites …” (more)

[Ingrid Miley, RTÉ News, 6 April]

“Last week, students for the first time received some indication of what campus may look like next year, after Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris announced plans to introduce rapid antigen testing in universities in September. The plans are the first concrete acknowledgement from the government that the coronavirus will still be a prominent feature of higher education come September …” (more)

[University Times, 5 April]

“Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD has today welcomed publication of the report on rapid testing and confirmed pilots will be undertaken in third level settings, as recommended in the report. The report recommends widespread rapid testing in Universities, Colleges, Institute of Technology and further education establishments, with particular attention on accommodation …” (more)

[gov.ie, 2 April]

“Renewal applications for the student grant scheme for the 2021-22 academic year will open on Thursday, while a number of improvements have been made for the most disadvantaged students, Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris has said. These include an increase in the postgraduate fee grant and an increase in the income threshold, while a number of Department of Social Protection and other payments are to be included as income disregards …” (more)

[Colin Gleeson, Irish Times, 1 April]

“An overhaul of the student grant scheme is to be announced today. Among the changes are an increase in the postgraduate fee grant and qualifying income threshold. The scheme opens for renewal applications today. The changes to the SUSI scheme are effective for the coming 2021/22 academic year …” (more)

[Jess Casey, Irish Examiner, 1 April]

“A €1,000-a-day job at the new Technological University of the South East was filled without regard to proper procurement procedures, which are supposed to apply to all positions over €25,000. Tom Boland was announced as executive director of the Technological University of the South East consortium by Higher Education Minister Simon Harris last July …” (more)

[Darren Skelton, Irish Examiner, 31 March]

“Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide the public and private investment in research and development as a numerical value, a share of GDP, a share of GNI and a share of GNI* in each year since 2006, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 25 March]

“Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if funding is available for students wishing to continue to third-level education abroad in September 2021 given the likely rise in CAO points requirements for domestic courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 24 March]

“Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the measures he is taking to ensure that the Institute of Technology Tralee and Cork Institute of Technology merger to Munster Technological University is balanced and fair; if reassurance will be given to all stakeholders that both former institutes are fairly represented now and in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 24 March]

“Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the approximately 20,000 college applicants who applied for courses in 2021 on the basis of leaving certificate results achieved in previous years and who consequently may have been disadvantaged with respect to CAO points required for entry to their given courses due to disproportionate grade inflation relative to other years; if he is making provisions for those students who may have been denied a placement under such circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 24 March]

“Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon has told university chiefs that he is concerned Covid-19 outbreaks among students could have a negative impact for on-campus learning in the next academic year …” (more)

[Éilís Sheehy, RTÉ News, 26 March]