Results 241-260 of 6,887 for speaker:James Lawless

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Legal Cases (29 Jul 2025)

James Lawless: All legal costs for my Department are included within the published Appropriation Accounts, under 6.1 within Vote 45. Please find link below. The 2024 Accounts are currently under audit and will be published once the audit is complete: www.audit.gov.ie/en/publications/appropriation%20accounts/. Legal costs incurred by agencies under the aegis of the Department are a matter for the Agencies...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (29 Jul 2025)

James Lawless: The Deputy will be aware that Marino Institute of Education (MIE) is a private higher education institution for which my Department has no governance or oversight role. The institution is not in receipt of core funding through my Department or the HEA. However, I understand the Department for Education and Youth provides funding to MIE for the delivery of primary Initial Teacher...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (29 Jul 2025)

James Lawless: The Higher Education Authority Act 2022 provides for the designation of additional institutions by ministerial order, which allows for higher education institutions, including private and not-for-profit higher education institutions, to apply for designation. However, these provisions enabling this process have not yet been commenced. Work is underway on developing the designation by...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (29 Jul 2025)

James Lawless: The Minister for Education has statutory responsibility for setting national education policy related to initial teacher education for primary and post-primary teaching as well as in relation to teacher education more generally. Consequently, the deputy should direct questions on the implementation of recommendations related to teacher education to that Minister. My department has no...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Priorities (29 Jul 2025)

James Lawless: The Government fully recognises the critical importance of digital and technology skills for Ireland’s economic future and the welfare of society. We are currently working to develop an updated National Digital Strategy, where skills, and research and innovation, will continue to feature prominently, reflecting a whole-of-government commitment to preparing the workforce for the digital...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Priorities (29 Jul 2025)

James Lawless: I am of the view that collaboration is at the core of our successful tertiary education system. Close relationships between enterprise, education and training providers, and the innovation and research ecosystem will enable us to take the next leap forward in building a thriving economy and society. Additionally, I firmly believe in the transformational regional impact of Technological...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (29 Jul 2025)

James Lawless: The information in relation to this parliamentary question is being collated and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it becomes available.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (29 Jul 2025)

James Lawless: For student grants purposes, students are categorised according to their circumstances either as students dependent on parents or a legal guardian, or as independent mature students.A student may be assessed as an independent mature student if he or she has attained the age of 23 on the 1st of January of the year of first entry to an approved course or of re-entry following a break in studies...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (29 Jul 2025)

James Lawless: I am acutely conscious of the financial challenges facing students and the need for the progressive implementation of measures to address costs as a barrier to education. I am committed to easing this burden for students and their families in a financially sustainable way. I hosted a cost of education event in early April to better inform the decisions on this issue and to meet with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (29 Jul 2025)

James Lawless: The Technological Sector Student Accommodation Programme (TSSAP) is progressing with the purpose of assessing Higher Education Institution (HEI) proposals for student accommodation on, or near, each of their main campus locations. Stage 1 of the TSSAP involved the submission of strategic assessment documents. HEIs, including the Technological University of the Shannon, submitted...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (29 Jul 2025)

James Lawless: I propose to take Questions Nos. 3329 and 3337 together. SOLAS are the state agency responsible for further education and training, including apprenticeship. I have been advised by SOLAS that there are no current plans to establish a new apprenticeship centre in Roscommon Town.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (29 Jul 2025)

James Lawless: When craft apprentices attend “off-the-job” training in Higher Education or Education and Training Boards they receive a fortnightly State-paid training allowance. This is not a wage and there is no contract of employment between SOLAS and the apprentice. Neither SOLAS nor my department are involved in the setting of wages for craftspersons or apprentices. Gross wage norms,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Northern Ireland (29 Jul 2025)

James Lawless: The CAO is an independent, non-profit private company. Its function is to process applications for undergraduate courses and some postgraduate courses on behalf of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). CAO points are determined by the Leaving Certificate grades of applicants, the number of available places, and the number of applicants and can, therefore, go up or down in any given year as a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Northern Ireland (29 Jul 2025)

James Lawless: Following the recent summit between the Taoiseach and Prime Minister Starmer, it was agreed that both Ireland and the UK will promote greater understanding of education opportunities for full-time students through improved knowledge, guidance and information using higher education entrance systems. Officials in my Department are working closely with their counterparts across the Devolved...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (29 Jul 2025)

James Lawless: Maintaining apprenticeship as an attractive option for both employers and learners is essential to achieving the Government’s goal of 12,500 new apprentice registrations annually by 2030 and this will be a central focus of the next Action Plan. While wages are a key factor for those considering apprenticeships, neither SOLAS nor my department are involved in the setting of wages....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (29 Jul 2025)

James Lawless: As far as possible, SOLAS schedules apprentices as soon as possible to their off-the-job training and at the nearest available training location relative to their home location. If a placement is not available near an apprentice’s home location, they will be called to the next nearest available location. Apprentices and their employers receive written notification from the relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (29 Jul 2025)

James Lawless: In line with Impact 2030, Ireland’s national research and innovation strategy, and the Programme for Government, this Department is advancing a strategic and comprehensive approach to the research infrastructure requirements of the higher education sector. A Working Group was established in March 2025 in response to the Programme for Government commitment referred to by the Deputy. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (29 Jul 2025)

James Lawless: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has not cut SOLAS’ funding. As the Deputy noted in her question, investment in SOLAS and the FET sector has increased by 37% since 2020 with an allocation of over €1 billion in 2025. The allocation of funding to individual Education and Training Boards (ETBs) is a matter for SOLAS, in line with its statutory remit under the Further...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Legal Cases (29 Jul 2025)

James Lawless: In general, decisions around fee arrangements and applicable rates are a matter for the Chief State Solicitor's Office (CSSO). My Department has processes and systems in operation to ensure that public financial procedures are being complied with. When external legal services are procured, fees are agreed on a case-by-case basis. All legal costs for my Department are included within the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Legal Services (29 Jul 2025)

James Lawless: The Chief State Solicitor’s Office (CSSO) is best placed to comment on whether rates paid for legal services represent value for money for the taxpayer. My Department has processes and systems in operation to ensure that public financial procedures and value for money for the taxpayer are being complied with. All legal costs for my Department are included within the published...