Results 5,981-6,000 of 6,467 for speaker:James Lawless

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Third Level Education (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: I thank Deputy Connolly for his support in my visit to Galway last week. He is a great advocate for the college and works closely with the team. I believe he is a former student. That was a very good engagement. I agree with both Deputies on the real need to examine all options and all levers at our disposal to increase the number of disability workers. These include Springboard. I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Grant Payments (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: I thank the Deputy for the question. I am committed to increasing the supports available to students and to addressing the costs of education for students and their families progressively over this year and the coming years for as long as I am privileged to serve in this office. It is important to say that all proposals made regarding education expenditure, including student grants,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Grant Payments (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: I know the Deputy's commitment to North Kildare and to our shared constituency. I agree that education is absolutely a core part of that. Education, talent, skills and investment in people is the core of our success economically as well. That is why we, as a nation, have achieved everything we have. It is because of our investment in education from the early days of the State. It is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Grant Payments (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: I totally agree. I will raise some of the progress we have made in recent years and which is continuing again this year, from this September. On the cost of education, the threshold is one part of it, and an important one. The SUSI grant system is one part also. There are other factors such as student accommodation, which I am working on. I hope to publish a strategy on student...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Further and Higher Education (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: I thank the Deputy for his continuing interest in the Cavan project as well as others. More generally, on the Department's capital ceiling over the last period there is a dedicated capital envelope, which the Deputy referred to, that amounted to €300 million for the further education and training sector, FET. Available funding has increased again from a low base of €6...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Further and Higher Education (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: I absolutely know it will be put to very good use. It is a fantastic and very exciting project and it is great to hear the history of that building, and indeed of the project and further education in the Cavan-Monaghan area. I thank the Deputy for the invitation to visit. I will certainly put that in my diary and will get there in due course. I would like to see it for myself. You cannot...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Further and Higher Education (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: I agree with the Deputy and I thank him for those points on access to the system for those who maybe would not have had that given they were coming from backgrounds where traditionally education or higher education was not a feature. The further education sector has been so progressive and has led so much in making education accessible to so many more families in a community setting and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Research and Development (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: I thank the Deputy for his question and his kind words. I look forward to working with him to deliver for Kildare North and the country as we work together in this House and elsewhere. I know he is spokesperson for a related area as well. I want to acknowledge that and support him in his work. The plan to modernise research equipment is a topic close to my heart. It is something that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Research and Development (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: I entirely agree with the Deputy regarding the economic headwinds he referred to in his supplementary question. Part of our competitive offering is that we have such a strong talent base, we invest in education and we invest in research and innovation. Later today, I will travel to Brussels to attend a research council with European Council colleagues and ministers in related briefs...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Research and Development (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: The Deputy mentioned the IUA paper published in March. I actually appointed the IUA to my working group and it is actually actively involved in it already. It is an excellent organisation and it is worthwhile to have it in the room for these discussions. The other thing I will say about the programme as I currently envisage it and through my work with the expert group is that it is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Further and Higher Education (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: I thank the Deputy and acknowledge his continuing interest in this area and in the matter he referred to at the end of his question. More generally, at the outset, supporting the participation and success of learners with disabilities is a critical national priority. It is something I have been very much engaged in since I took up my role, as were my predecessors. The Minister of State,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Further and Higher Education (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: As acknowledged regarding PATH 4, I did commit almost €3 million in additional funding just this week towards that funding. I also intend to initiate a disability demonstration project, which will inform the development of the new policy framework for more flexible and responsive tailored supports for those students and their educational journey. A great deal of work is being done. ...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Further and Higher Education (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: I acknowledge the Deputy's ongoing advocacy for this group and we have talked about it on a number of occasions already. I know he may be a little sceptical of interdepartmental reviews and the rest of it, but the last one made significant progress. Anyone would acknowledge that a 42% pay increase is a pretty substantial one. Certainly progress has been made but I acknowledge that elements...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (22 May 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. Almost all students have their tuition fees paid in full by the State through the Free Fees scheme; additionally,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: The Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 is committed to providing a wide range of national programmes that reflect the diversity of the Irish population. Since the formation of my department, investment in apprenticeships has increased by 84% - from €184 million in 2020 to €339 million in 2025. As apprenticeships are national programmes, apprentices can be called to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: The main support available to assist students with the cost of attending higher education is the Student Grant Scheme. Under the Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to eligible students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. The decision...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: My Department works in close collaboration with Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and with the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on the development of capital projects in line with masterplans for each institution. My Department is committed to supporting NCAD in addressing its infrastructure and capacity needs. It is clear that there are significant infrastructure issues to be resolved...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: Addressing shortages in critical health and social care professions is a key priority for my Department and for the Government as a whole. An interdepartmental working group was established in April 2025, chaired by my Department along with senior representatives from the Department of Health, the HSE, the Department of Children, Equality and Disability, the Higher Education Authority and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: Government's commitment to meeting industry skills needs is evident in the 139% increase in apprenticeship investment - from €142 million in 2019 to €339 million in 2025. The last five years have seen a 33% growth in the number of apprenticeship programmes available from 58 to 77. The development of new apprenticeships follows a structured 10-step process overseen by the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Business Supports (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: The Government is committed to ensuring that employers continue to value apprenticeships and are incentivised to participate in apprenticeship programmes across all sectors of the economy. The department’s Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021 to 2025 recognises that the cost of training is a potential barrier to employer participation in apprenticeships. To support employers with...