Results 561-580 of 6,887 for speaker:James Lawless

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Meetings (24 Jun 2025)

James Lawless: Further to Parliamentary Question No. 297 of 12 February 2025, I can confirm that my officials continue to engage with the Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI) regarding its claim through the established IR mechanisms. I understand that the most recent engagement with TUI officials occurred earlier this month to discuss the claim in the context of local bargaining. At the meeting there was...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Projects (24 Jun 2025)

James Lawless: My Department is currently party to a contract for six infrastructure projects under Bundle 1 of the Higher Education Public Private Partnership Programme. Five of the projects have been delivered on time and on budget with the sixth project due to commence service on the 30th of June 2025, in line with what was agreed in the original contract. Therefore, no infrastructure projects have been...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (24 Jun 2025)

James Lawless: My officials are in the process of obtaining the requested information from SOLAS and will forward a response to the Deputy separately.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (24 Jun 2025)

James Lawless: My Department remains supportive of and committed to the continuation of the George Mitchell Scholarship Programme. A significant level of State resources is held in a fund for the delivery of the scholarships under the legislative framework in place and this funding has been supplemented over recent years by a significant annual subvention from my Department. Officials from my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (24 Jun 2025)

James Lawless: The Programme for Government agreed across all the Government parties is the blueprint for the commitments of this term of office. Under the heading of Building a Healthier Future, the Programme indicates that this Government will:Introduce a tuition fee support scheme for Graduate Entry MedicineProvide more graduate entry medicine programmes focused on preparing student for careers in rural...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Inquiries (24 Jun 2025)

James Lawless: I’m conscious of the need to support the transition of the manufacturing sector into advanced manufacturing. Robotics, automation, and AI can substantially enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of our Small and Medium Size Enterprises and our multinationals. The Government is committed to strengthening the ecosystem of supports for businesses. In particular, we are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (24 Jun 2025)

James Lawless: I was very happy to announce a new phase of structural support funding for eligible higher education institutions in early June 2025 with the introduction of the Targeted Enhancement Fund (TEF). The fund is being administered on my behalf by the Higher Education Authority who issued a call for applications on June 4th. Eligible HEIs are Technological Universities (TUs), Institutes of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (24 Jun 2025)

James Lawless: In 2023 the Higher Education Authority published the new System Performance Framework 2023-2028 which sets out the parameters under which designated institutions of higher education can identify their contribution to the achievement of national strategy, as appropriate to each institution’s mission, scale, location, and strategic plan. This helps the HEA to assess system health, and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (24 Jun 2025)

James Lawless: In October 2022 the Higher Education Authority (HEA) conducted an expression of interest process for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) interested in building capacity in Dentistry, Pharmacy, Medicine, Nursing, and Veterinary. The HEA received 39 expressions of interest from 15 HEIs. An independent expert panel were appointed to assess these submissions. A report was issued to the then...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Inquiries (24 Jun 2025)

James Lawless: The Building Heroes campaign is designed to encourage new entrants to the construction sector by changing the perception of the sector from the narrow lens of 'on-site' to the opportunities that exist through MMC (Modern Methods of Construction) and other advances; and to address the stereotype that the sector is inappropriate for women. In 2024 the campaign comprised 12 young adults...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (24 Jun 2025)

James Lawless: I propose to take Questions Nos. 954, 955, 956, 957 and 958 together. The CAO is an independent private company, its function is to process applications for undergraduate courses and some postgraduate courses on behalf of the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). CAO points are determined by the Leaving Certificate Grades of applicants, the number of available places, and the number of...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Apprenticeship Programmes (19 Jun 2025)

James Lawless: Gabhaim buíochas leis na Teachtaí as an gceist seo a ardú. I thank the Deputies for raising this important matter. As the Deputies opposite are most likely aware, SOLAS is the State agency responsible for the further education and training sector. A key part of its remit and duties is to allocate funding to the education and training boards to deliver further education...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Apprenticeship Programmes (19 Jun 2025)

James Lawless: I am not impressed with the situation either. I would prefer if we were not in this situation. Sometimes in politics, we have to play the hands that we are dealt. Sometimes we would prefer they are different but they are what they are and we have to make the best of them. My job as Minister is to manage the situations that arise. I have said no class will be cancelled. I did not say...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (19 Jun 2025)

James Lawless: Travel agencies, such as the one referred to by the Deputy, are privately owned and primarily operate in other jurisdictions. These agencies arrange study and travel options for prospective international higher education (HE) and English language education (ELE) students to many countries including Ireland. These agencies act as intermediaries between prospective students and predominantly...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (19 Jun 2025)

James Lawless: Under the Free Fees Initiative, the State provides funding towards the tuition fee costs of eligible undergraduate higher education students exclusive of the student contribution. The student contribution was introduced in the 2011/12 academic year. The student contribution replaced the student services charge levied by higher education institutions (HEIs), which were up to €1,500...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (19 Jun 2025)

James Lawless: Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are autonomous institutions responsible for their own academic affairs including the development of relevant curriculum and student numbers on individual courses. I understand that costs of individual courses can vary depending on a variety of factors, including the type of course and the method of provision. Costs also vary by institution. HEIs work...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (19 Jun 2025)

James Lawless: My Department announced the Strategic Infrastructure Upgrade Fund (SIUF) programme call, in February 2022, to support the upgrade of Further Education and Training (FET) infrastructure for Education and Training Boards (ETBs).  Its purpose is to provide for high-quality teaching and learning environments, aligned with the principles of the FET College of the Future. A total of 19...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (19 Jun 2025)

James Lawless: On 13 May, the Government agreed to my proposals to establish a Global Talent Initiative to bring international research talent to Ireland. My Department is working with Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland to design a call, which will be launched this summer. The programme will have an initial budget of €8m per annum. It is anticipated that this figure will support...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (19 Jun 2025)

James Lawless: The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) is committed to embracing opportunities for remote and blended working. The DFHERIS Blended Working Policy was introduced at the end of 2023 and allows staff members to make applications to work remotely for up to three days per week subject to business needs. Fully remote work patterns are not...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (18 Jun 2025)

James Lawless: Craft apprentices are employees and are paid directly by their employer during the “on-the-job” training phases of their apprenticeship. Craft apprentice gross wage norms differ for different sectors. They are set through collective bargaining, and may be underpinned by sectoral employment orders. Neither SOLAS nor my department are involved in the setting of wages for...