Results 281-300 of 5,894 for speaker:James Lawless

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (27 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: As the Deputy will be aware, students eligible for the Free Fees Initiative have their tuition fees paid by the State, exclusive of the student contribution. Over 143,000 undergraduate students benefit from the scheme each year, at a cost of over €368 million. This universal scheme is paid as a grant on behalf of students without any means testing. Students pay a student contribution...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (27 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) is a pathway for degree holders who want to pursue a medical career on an accelerated four-year programme. Students pursuing GEM programmes do so as second degree courses and consequently are not eligible for free fees funding. They are also not eligible for funding under the Student Grant Scheme as they do not meet the progression criteria of the Scheme. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Policies (27 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: Green skills are essential for ensuring Ireland achieves our targets set out in the Climate Action Plan 2024. My Department has been working with the tertiary sector to develop the skills required to support the green transition – from developing transferable green skills for life to specific requirement for emerging key green sectors such as Nearly Zero Energy Buildings/ Retrofit,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (27 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: I propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 54 together. A key pillar in my department's Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 are to ensure that apprenticeships will be recognised and valued by employers across all sectors of the economy as a key mechanism for building a highly skilled workforce. To incentivise participation in apprenticeships, a grant of €2,000 per year per apprentice...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (27 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: As part of the Student Accommodation Short-Term Activation Programme, the University of Galway received approval to progress a proposed leasing project for approximately 242 additional beds over 15 years, subject to review. An assessment was commenced by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) as part of the due diligence process, however during the ongoing assessment the proposal was...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (27 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: An apprenticeship system that delivers a highly skilled workforce which contributes to maintaining productivity, competitiveness and sustainable growth in the economy is a priority for government. The Action Plan for Apprenticeship published in 2021 has been, and remains, a key pillar in my department's workplan to achieve this goal. Significant progress has been made since 2021. This...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (27 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: The Deputy will be aware that Galway Roscommon ETB (GRETB) have been supported by SOLAS in developing their Preliminary Business Case (PBC) proposal for Galway City under the Further Education and Training (FET) College of the Future Major Projects fund. The development of a robust PBC is fundamental to the requirements of the Infrastructure Guidelines. The proposal put forward by GRETB...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (27 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: There has been significant investment in the growth of apprenticeships since the creation of this Department in 2020 and we are on track to reach the target of 10,000 registrations per year by 2025. One of the main objectives of the Apprenticeship action Plan 2021-2025 is for apprenticeships to be recognised and valued by employers across all sectors of the economy as a key mechanism for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (27 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: A new student accommodation strategy is in development following Government approval of the long-term policy in January 2024. The strategy will include measures to increase the supply of student accommodation, reduce the cost of delivery through standardised design guidance and promote efficient use of existing building stock through refurbishment and an examination of vacancy, while...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Artificial Intelligence (27 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: Reply not received from Department.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (27 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: My officials are working closely with the Department of Health to expand the healthcare workforce capacity of the country, including oral healthcare. My Department does not place a quota on dental courses, and therefore the number of places offered is a matter for the higher education institutions, in line with their autonomy. However, I do acknowledge that due to a high level of practical...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (27 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: The Further Education and Training (FET) College of the Future Major Projects Fund was launched to address existing deficits in FET infrastructure, to support projects that drive reform of the FET sector and to facilitate consolidation and integration of further education and training. In September 2024 following an evaluation process, six proposals met the relevant criteria and were...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (27 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: Under Budget 2025, additional funding was announced for Research Ireland in order to increase its PhD stipend level to €25,000, i.e. an increase of over 31% in two years. This announcement builds on the increases secured under preceding Budgets, demonstrating my Department’s consistent focus and progress on this issue. It has come into effect from 1 January 2025.In doing so,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (27 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: SOLAS, in collaboration with my Department, is currently developing the new FET Strategy for 2025-2029, which will build on the growth of the sector to date, further empowering individuals, communities and businesses to achieve their full potential. Since its establishment, my Department has taken steps to ensure that the necessary infrastructure is in place to support the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (27 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: I would like to advise the Deputy that Kerry ETB are currently being supported by SOLAS in developing their Preliminary Business Case (PBC) proposal for Killarney under the FET College of the Future Major Projects fund. The development of a robust PBC is fundamental to the requirements of the Infrastructure Guidelines. The proposal put forward by KETB is one of twelve projects that are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Small and Medium Enterprises (27 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: My Department is committed to driving a skills ecosystem and skills agenda in Ireland which is agile and responsive to priority skills needs, to ensure Ireland has a skilled and productive workforce across businesses of all sizes and to encourage enterprises to avail of opportunities for their employees. I am focused on working with the skills ecosystem, to ensure an adequate pipeline of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Staff (27 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: I fully agree that our third level institutions should be able to offer the career opportunities, pay and terms and conditions that serve to attract and retain quality staff. It is important to recognise the autonomy of our third level institutions and the legitimate need for an appropriate staffing mix that supports a high-performing sector. Notwithstanding this, my Department is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (27 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science does not calculate progression rate data on a county level, and as such the requested information is not available. I am committed to improving access to higher education for students throughout the country. That is why my Department has introduced a range of targeted initiatives, from financial supports to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (27 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: Craft apprenticeships are a vital route to qualification and employment for the construction sector, and strong employer demand has led to a 34% increase in craft apprenticeship registrations since 2019, increasing from 5,300 in 2019 to 7,100 in 2024. My Department continues to oversee the implementation of a priority plan put in place in November 2023 by the National Apprenticeship...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (27 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: I can advise the Deputy that Louth Meath ETB (LMETB) have been supported by SOLAS in developing their Preliminary Business Case (PBC) proposal for Dunboyne under the FET College of the Future Major Projects fund. The development of a robust PBC is fundamental to the requirements of the Infrastructure Guidelines. The proposal put forward by LMETB relates to the development of a new fit...