Results 5,501-5,520 of 6,454 for speaker:James Lawless

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (5 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: My Department is committed to supporting students regarding the cost of education, and has introduced measures to assist with the financial burden on students. These measures include a €1,000 reduction in the student contribution fee for higher education students that are eligible for the Free Fees Initiative (FFI). This reduction followed on from similar once off student contribution...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (5 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: Budget 2025 included a package of measures to support households with the cost of education. These measures include a €1,000 reduction in the student contribution fee for higher education students that are eligible for the Free Fees Initiative (FFI). This reduction followed on from similar once off student contribution reductions in Budgets 2023 and 2024 for free fees eligible...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (5 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: The main form of financial assistance available to higher education students is the Student Grant Scheme administered by SUSI. Online and Distance Learning Courses, do not qualify for grant assistance under the Student Grant Scheme. My Department does however recognise the need to offer support for more flexible forms of learning and last year, for the first time, a new Part-Time Fee...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Legislative Programme (5 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: My Department will be transposing two pieces of EU legislation into Irish law. Neither of these will be referred to an Oireachtas Committee.Directive (EU) 2024/505 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 February 2024 amending Directive 2005/36/EC as regards the recognition of professional qualifications of nurses responsible for general care trained in Romania [due March...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Inquiries (6 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: 370. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to examine the issue of childcare shortages (details supplied); her plans to resolve this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10363/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (6 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: I thank the Deputy for this question. In March 2024, SIPTU and TUI, the unions representing tutors, agreed to a proposal to formally establish a new grade of adult educator with a standardised pay scale aligned with the Youthreach Resource Person grade. This scale has 13 points and two Long Service Increments. This proposal allows for incremental progression and a career path for tutors...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (6 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: In response to rising demand for apprenticeships from employers and learners, my Department secured a significant investment of €77.4 million for the apprenticeship system in Budget 2025. This represents the single largest investment in core apprenticeship funding since the formation of my department in 2020. There are now over 8,000 craft training places in Education and Training...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (6 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: The higher education tuition fee payable by a student can vary depending on a variety of factors including the type of course and the student's access route. The assessment of a student’s application and the determination of the appropriate fee rate is a function of the institution attended. There are typically two rates of fee, an EU Rate or a non-EU fee rate. Higher education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (6 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: The following are to be brought forward and signed by my Department during the first six months of 2025 but do not relate to transposition to EU Law:Student Grant Scheme 2025Student Support Regulations 2025Student Part-Time Fee Scheme for Specified Undergraduate Courses 2025Student Part-Time Fee Regulations for Specified Undergraduate Courses 2025 The Research and Innovation Act 2024 was...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (6 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: The Student Grant Scheme and the Student Part-Time Fee Scheme for Specified Undergraduate Courses are statutory based schemes administered by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). To qualify for student supports under the scheme, students must be attending an ‘approved course’ at an ‘approved institution’. The definition of an approved institution is set...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (6 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: My Department is committed to supporting the talent needs of the Irish SME sector. Skillnet Ireland established the MentorsWork scheme in 2020, in partnership with the Small Firms Association. MentorsWork connects SME owners and managers throughout Ireland with experienced mentors, helping them navigate business challenges such as strategic planning, financial management, digital...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (6 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: My Department has disbursed almost €140m in capital funding to the Technological University Sector since 2023 under a number of capital programmes including the Higher Education Strategic and Infrastructural Fund (HESIF), the Infrastructure and Refurbishment Fund (IURF), the Energy Efficiency Decarbonisation Pathway Programme (EEDPP), the Devolved Capital Grant, the Apprenticeship...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (6 Mar 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: Information and Communications Technology (20 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: The Department's communications infrastructure is provided and managed by the Department of Education as part of a shared service agreement. The Department of Education has informed my officials that it currently has 11 ISDN/PSTN lines and 41 DSL lines. The lines are predominantly in use in Departmental regional offices. The necessity for PSTN/ISDN and DSL technology is mainly due to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (20 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: The information that the Deputy has requested is not readily available. My officials have been in contact with the Deputy's Staff for clarification on this question.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Adult Education Provision (20 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: As the Deputy is aware, Youthreach is a vital programme, designed to support young people who have left school early. It provides integrated education, training, and work experience, focusing on personal development, literacy, numeracy, and vocational skills. It stands as a lifeline for many, offering a second chance to build a brighter future. It has a strong emphasis on personal...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (20 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: The below table sets out the number of WTE legal advisors employed by my Department in 2023, 2024 and to-date in 2025. Year Number 2023 1 2024 1 2025 1

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (20 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: I can confirm that there have been no secondments from consultancy firms to my Department since 2020.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Contracts (20 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has no records of any contract or contact with the aforementioned hotel.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (4 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: 408. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the provision of extra ASD school places in north County Kildare (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9793/25]