Results 181-200 of 6,340 for speaker:James Lawless

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions (29 May 2025)

James Lawless: I propose to take Questions 703 and 702 together. The student enrolment data requested by the Deputy regarding nursing and midwifery is contained in the attached spreadsheet. This data was sourced from the HEA Student Records System (SRS) and is the most recent available. The number of CAO places may fluctuate year on year for any given course. My Department does not have access to CAO data....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (29 May 2025)

James Lawless: I propose to take Questions Nos. 706 and 707 together. The student enrolment data requested by the Deputy regarding medical science is contained in the attached spreadsheet. This data was sourced from the HEA Student Records System (SRS) and is the most recent available. The number of CAO places may fluctuate year on year for any given course, the new entrant data for undergraduates in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (29 May 2025)

James Lawless: I propose to take Questions Nos. 710 to 715, inclusive, together. The student enrolment data requested by the Deputy on podiatry, radiation therapy and radiography is contained in the attached spreadsheet. This data was sourced from the HEA Student Records System (SRS) and is the most recent available. The number of CAO places may fluctuate year on year for any given course, the new entrant...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (29 May 2025)

James Lawless: I propose to take Questions Nos. 716 to 719, inclusive, 722 and 723 together. The student enrolment data requested by the Deputy regarding psychology, psychotherapy and counselling is contained in the attached spreadsheet. This data was sourced from the HEA Student Records System (SRS) and is the most recent available. Data is only available in relation to publicly-funded institutions. There...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (29 May 2025)

James Lawless: I propose to take Questions Nos. 720 and 721 together. The student enrolment data requested by the Deputy regarding paramedicine is contained in the attached spreadsheet. This data was sourced from the HEA Student Records System (SRS) and is the most recent available. The number of CAO places may fluctuate year on year for any given course. In the case of paramedicine, many students...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (29 May 2025)

James Lawless: My Department has made significant progress regarding the range of supports and programmes for learners with disabilities, including neurodivergent people. The Programme for Access to Higher Education, or PATH, 4 funding stream under the National Access Plan supports my Department's goals of enabling all learners with disabilities avail of higher education. Phase 1 funding of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (29 May 2025)

James Lawless: Circular 0027/2011 provides for the payment of Locally Devised Assessments (LDAs) fees. The rates are paid to assessors in respect of devising and assessing QQI modules at levels 5 and 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). There are also a small number of legacy NFQ level 4 modules which have LDA rates assigned. Circular 0027/2011 does not provide for QQI modules at...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Artificial Intelligence (28 May 2025)

James Lawless: The AI Continent Action Plan was launched last month. It sets the objective for the EU to become a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI) transforming Europe's strong traditional industries and its exceptional talent pool into powerful engines of AI innovation and acceleration. The Action Plan envisions Europe as a global leader in AI highlighting that, from cutting-edge...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Youth Services (28 May 2025)

James Lawless: The Youthreach programme is of great importance to my Department as it provides early school leavers with the knowledge, skills and confidence required to participate fully in society and progress to further education, training and employment. As the state agency responsible for the FET sector, SOLAS allocates funding to 16 ETBs and other agencies to deliver FET programmes, including...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Youth Services (28 May 2025)

James Lawless: The Youthreach programme is of great importance to my Department as it provides early school leavers with the knowledge, skills and confidence required to participate fully in society and progress to further education, training and employment. Typically, the programme provides two years of education at levels 3 and 4 of the National Framework of Qualifications. Youthreach is an important and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Artificial Intelligence (28 May 2025)

James Lawless: I was happy to announce on May 13th that Government had given their agreement to my proposals to establish a Global Talent Initiative to bring global research talent to Ireland. At a time when uncertainty looms for many researchers around the world, Ireland offers stability, opportunity, excellence and a gateway to the EU. My Department will continue their work with Taighde Éireann-...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (28 May 2025)

James Lawless: The data requested by the Deputy is contained in the attached spreadsheet. This data was sourced from the HEA Student Records System (SRS) and is year one student enrolment data for the most recent academic year available 2023/2024 for the disciplines requested. ">Year 1 Student Data

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (28 May 2025)

James Lawless: The potential cost of adjusting the student contribution under the Free Fees Initiative may vary from year to year, depending on the number of eligible students attending higher education, and the number of students qualifying for student contribution supports from SUSI. These variables make it difficult to estimate the potential cost over a three-year period. The €500 student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (28 May 2025)

James Lawless: Apprenticeship Instructors are public sector staff. The applicable pay rates for staff across the public sector are determined by national pay agreements negotiated with staff representatives and approved by Government. Any changes to pay can occur only through these processes, and any proposals would need to be considered in detail by the relevant Department and trade unions and the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: International Students (28 May 2025)

James Lawless: It would not be appropriate to estimate the costs involved given the hypothetical nature of the question. The Student Assistance Fund (SAF) provides financial assistance to students experiencing financial difficulties while attending higher education. Students can be assisted towards costs such as rent, childcare, transport and costs associated with the provision of books/class materials....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (28 May 2025)

James Lawless: It is important to note that there are no fees for undertaking a national apprenticeship programme. A student contribution fee is paid by all students, including apprentices, when attending Higher Education Institutions. A once-off reduction of up to 33% of this fee as a part of a cost-of-living package for students was announced in Budgets 2023, 2024 and 2025. I remain committed to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (28 May 2025)

James Lawless: Government supports craft apprentices through the provision of a state training allowance during each phase of off-the-job training. On average, a training allowance of €5,000 is provided to assist in off-the-job training, depending on industry and phase. An apprentice is paid every two weeks when they are on off-the-job training. This is based on the wage norms set out for that...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (28 May 2025)

James Lawless: Information to inform a response to the Deputy's question been requested from the relevant agency. I will be back to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (28 May 2025)

James Lawless: I propose to take Questions Nos. 426 and 430 together. For apprenticeship programmes developed before 2016, or “craft” apprenticeships, there are long-standing industrial relations mechanisms for determining pay where collective bargaining between industry and employee representatives determines rates. In the construction industry these rates are underpinned by a sectoral...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (28 May 2025)

James Lawless: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine. In relation to supports available for students studying outside of the State, the Student Grant Scheme provides maintenance grants to eligible undergraduate students pursuing approved courses in...