Ninth Level Ireland

“Offering student nurses contracts as paid healthcare assistants in hospitals would have more disadvantages than advantages, a report to be given by the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly to Cabinet this morning has found. The report said such a move, which has been called for by nursing representative organisations, would ‘undermine the graduate training model’ for nurses and ‘may have a displacement effect on healthcare assistants’ …” (more)

[Martin Wall, Irish Times, 19 January]

“Almost 17,000 laptops have been delivered to third-level students throughout Ireland as part of a publicly-funded scheme to facilitate online learning during the pandemic. The 16,700 Dell laptops were funded under a €168 million scheme announced by Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris, for third level institutions and students …” (more)

[Ciara O’Brien, Irish Times, 19 January]

“Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris confirmed this week that the thousands of extra college places that were introduced last year to cope with the demand during the pandemic will remain in place. He also plans to introduce 2,000 more places next year. However, while increasing access to higher education should be commended and encouraged, the circumstances of this particular announcement are more complicated than they seem …” (more)

[University Times, 17 January]

“Decisions need to be made on the future of the Leaving Cert by the end of this month, the Minister for Higher Education has said. Speaking in Dublin on Monday afternoon, Simon Harris said clarity was needed for all involved …” (more)

[Danuel McConnell, Irish Examiner, 18 January]

“Leaving Cert students will be able to choose between CAO and further education options at the same time from next year under plans to tackle ‘academic snobbery’ over alternatives to third level. Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris said there is a growing number of high quality options for school leavers in the further education and apprenticeships sectors …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 17 January]

“The Minister of Education has heard that an amalgamation between St Angela’s College in Sligo with the proposed new technological university for the north west makes more sense than continuing the link with NUI Galway …” (more)

[Ocean FM, 15 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]

“Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the terms of reference approved by the HEA and a company (details supplied) for the mid-term review report at GMIT County Mayo campus; the progress on the implementation of the working group’s recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 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]

“Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide information and clarity regarding the prospects of third-level students of studying abroad in the 2021-2022 academic year given the current Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 14 January]

“Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of individual laptops purchased as part of the laptop scheme for third level students announced in August 2020; the total cost of purchasing those laptops; the form of needs assessment carried out prior to purchase; if colleges or universities were consulted as part of the needs assessment; the specific colleges or universities; the number of laptops issued to each third level institution; and the number of laptops issued to students per third level institution in tabular form …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 13 January]

“Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to ensure that PhD candidates in third level institutions who are also teaching classes as part of their stipends are paid adequately for their work (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 13 January]

“Higher Education Minister Simon Harris has confirmed that the thousands of extra college places introduced this year because of the pandemic are here to stay. Harris will also introduce 2,000 additional higher education places this year ‘to deal with the demographic pressures’ that the sector is currently facing …” (more)

[Cormac Watson, University Times, 15 January]

“Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris has confirmed that the 2,225 extra college places secured last year during the controversy over the Leaving Certificate calculated grades will be available again this year. He also said he had secured budget funding for more than 2,000 other new places this year, bringing the total to almost 5,000 …” (more)

[Marie O’Halloran and Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 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]

“The government will extend internet access for students to 90 new locations across the country in order to create ‘extended virtual campuses’, Higher Education Minister Simon Harris announced today. HEAnet will lead the initiative, rolling out eduroam – a WiFi connection that students can automatically connect to – to locations accessible to students, such as libraries, museums, public offices, coffee shops and shopping centres …” (more)

[Cormac Watson, University Times, 5 January]

“A Freedom of Information request by the Waterford News & Star suggests that IT Carlow were not consulted on the appointment of Mr Tom Boland in advance of his assignment by Minister for Higher Education, Simon Harris on July 28, 2020 …” (more)

[Darren Skelton, Waterford News & Star, 2 January]

“Today marks the formal establishment of the Munster Technological University (MTU), and the beginning of a new dawn for the region. This is only our second technological university in the country, and is a major step forward in ensuring each region in the country has access to a university …” (more)

[Simon Harris, Irish Examiner, 1 January]