Results 141-160 of 6,340 for speaker:James Lawless

Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Engagement with Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (11 Jun 2025)

James Lawless: I thank Deputy Cummins.

Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Engagement with Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (11 Jun 2025)

James Lawless: I thank the Deputy. Regarding the disability courses, I can get her a note on the detail. To give some broad-brush details, nine different disciplines were identified in consultations with the Minister for Health, the Minister for education, and the Minister for disabilities as the priority areas to be front-loaded into the new provision. These included occupational therapy, physiotherapy,...

Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Engagement with Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (11 Jun 2025)

James Lawless: Turning to the ETBs, it is regrettable that not all ETBs have complied with national agreements. It is extremely regrettable and I have made this clear. There is a limit, though, in terms of the powers I can exercise in terms of compelling conformance, but it is extremely regrettable and I hope this is noted by the ETBs that have not done so to date. We will have to keep an eye on the...

Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Engagement with Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (11 Jun 2025)

James Lawless: Yes. It is a complex area and one I know the Deputy knows very well. Within the further education estate, we have several different historical paths into that area. It is, therefore, quite a complex tapestry. I am learning myself about the different moving parts within it. Different aspects have come through different trajectories to get there, so there can sometimes be a degree of...

Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Engagement with Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (11 Jun 2025)

James Lawless: I thank the committee very much.

Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Engagement with Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (11 Jun 2025)

James Lawless: I will wave the Leinster flag. Proposals are coming through from MTU Cork and UCC was included in the consultation. When we did the short-term activation, which produced accommodation at Maynooth and DCU, UCC was part of the consultation but it was not ready to take up the offer at that point. It is not for want of trying, to put it simply. I am not in the Department responsible for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (11 Jun 2025)

James Lawless: The table below sets out the information requested by the Deputy relating to the email and phone lines in use by Oireachtas members to which she refers. Contact Email Phone Line (general inquiries) Minister James Lawless james.lawless@oireachtas.ie 01 889 2448 / 01 889 2449 Minister of State Marian Harkin ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Contracts (11 Jun 2025)

James Lawless: I can confirm that my Department has not provided any capital funding for IT services in the years identified by the Deputy. The information in respect of aegis bodies, within the scope of the Deputy’s question, is not held by my Department. Contact details for these bodies are set out in the attached document, should the Deputy wish to contact the aegis bodies directly with her...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Artificial Intelligence (11 Jun 2025)

James Lawless: The European Union's AI Continent Action Plan was launched in April. 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. As the Deputy will be aware, one of the five key pillars of the Action Plan relates to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (11 Jun 2025)

James Lawless: The guidelines for consultancy which the Department of Further and Higher Education Research Innovation and Science complies with defines consultancy as "where a person, organization or group thereof is engaged to provide intellectual or knowledge-based services (e.g. expert analysis and advice) through delivering reports, studies, assessments, recommendations, proposals, etc. that contribute...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (10 Jun 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 Data (10 Jun 2025)

James Lawless: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1646, 1647, 1664 and 1665 together. The Higher Education Authority (HEA) is my Department's primary source of statistics in relation to the higher education sector. The HEA publishes socio-economic profile of the higher education student population, based on the home address of students and the Pobal HP Deprivation Index. The most recent report on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Costs (10 Jun 2025)

James Lawless: I am committed to addressing the costs of education for students and their families progressively over the coming years. It's important to say up front that all proposals made in relation to education expenditure, including student grants, are considered in the context of the annual Budget in October. Ahead of Budget 2026, I will publish an options paper, which will identify costs and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research Funding (10 Jun 2025)

James Lawless: Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland was established on the 1st of August 2024. Please see the budget allocation for August - December 2024 for Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland, and for the full year for 2025. - Research Ireland Allocation 2025 Research Ireland Allocation Aug-Dec 2024 Pay & Pensions €11,231,000 ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (10 Jun 2025)

James Lawless: In order to become an apprentice, individuals must secure employment with a SOLAS-approved employer, a list of which is available at . The employer must then register the apprentice with their local Education and Training Board within two weeks of the apprentice commencing employment. The number of Commis Chef apprentices who commenced training in 2024 and 2025 as well as the Commis Chef...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (10 Jun 2025)

James Lawless: SOLAS continue to support Kerry ETB in the development of its Preliminary Business Case (PBC) proposal for Killarney under the FET College of the Future Major Projects fund. The proposal is one of twelve projects that are currently being progressed under this fund. It is envisaged that the remaining projects at PBC stage under this programme call will be assessed this year and that those...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Correspondence (10 Jun 2025)

James Lawless: In general, for student grant 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 student (i.e. assessed without reference to parental income and address) if they have attained the age of 23 on the 1st of January of the year of first...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (10 Jun 2025)

James Lawless: Youthreach is designed to offer second-chance education to young people who are aged 16 to 20 and have either left school early or are at risk of not completing their formal education. It is designed to provide a more flexible, supportive, and alternative learning environment compared to post-primary schools, helping participants to gain qualifications and skills that will support their...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (10 Jun 2025)

James Lawless: My officials are looking into this matter for the Deputy and I will follow up with him directly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research Funding (10 Jun 2025)

James Lawless: I wish to assure the Deputy that there is no distinction made in terms of location or discipline in relation to Research Ireland competitive funding awards. The criteria for assessment are clearly laid out in the documentation which accompanies these calls and the excellence and quality of the proposal, as well as the proposed impact, are the core criteria. I share the Deputy's wish to...