Results 181-200 of 6,210 for speaker:James Lawless

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: Yes.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: We are probably veering into questions for the Minister for housing rather than me. I am not aware of the seven-storey buildings the Deputy talks about. There are already 1,891 purpose-built student accommodation beds on campus in the University of Galway. The latest figures tell us the university accommodation is oversubscribed, however, as it has received more applications per bed than...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: It is not unusual for student accommodation to be used for other purposes during the summer months. Most of the higher education institutions do that themselves. It is part of the challenge of finding a solution. I want to see the maximum available beds for student accommodation based on a formula that works, first and foremost, for students. Many of the higher education institutions look...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Third Level Education (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: I thank the Deputy. I intend for the funding to support the entire sector. The Deputy mentioned some figures. I would also be a bit concerned by the current level of our research and development spending as a percentage of GDP. We need to increase that. The private sector is spending a lot, so public sector spending needs to increase. That will be reflected in what I am hoping to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Mental Health Services (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: I appreciate the Deputy raising this important issue, as the mental health and well-being of our third level students is a matter of deep concern and ongoing priority for this Government. The Government and my Department remain committed to enhancing mental health supports across the sector. My Department has allocated a total of €32 million to support higher education institutions...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Mental Health Services (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: Some examples of the types of projects being supported through that funding include the national student counselling database implementation project. This facilitates the identification of trends in the mental health needs of students attending student counselling services. It measures and monitors what trends are coming through from access to counselling services and identifies areas for...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Mental Health Services (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: If we consider some of the ratios, one counsellor for every 1,000 students was the suggestion from the International Accreditation of Counseling Services, IACS, to which the Deputy referred. There are different views about that report as to whether that is the optimal way to measure ability and whether that is the right metric but I certainly note what the Deputy is saying. The national...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: I had the pleasure of visiting the University of Galway last week. I met the chair, the president and the students' union and we had a good discussion on this and many other matters. I admired the fine quadrangle and had the opportunity to inspect some of the research projects around the campus as well. It was a really worthwhile visit to see the really good work being done there. ...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Grant Payments (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: -----with increasing thresholds. We will come back to that later.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Grant Payments (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: I am aware of the issue which has been raised with me by the student unions and I have come across this in my review of the different schemes. It is fair to ask and test this to see what is appropriate. The Deputy mentioned that one of the families she had been in contact with had stated the difficulty in assessing and establishing that independence. Documentation accepted by SUSI...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Grant Payments (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: The Deputy might call it a bureaucratic checklist but I am sure she would also agree public moneys should be carefully managed. It would not be appropriate to have a free-for-all where we do not need any proof or documentation and anyone who applies can get appropriate payments. I imagine the Deputy would agree this would not be appropriate either. If we accept that neither extreme is a...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Third Level Education (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: To answer the Deputy's second question, yes, I will commit to increasing funding in education. I have announced that already and brought this before Cabinet where I secured approval to do so. The National Training Fund is a €1.485 billion pot of moneys which is collected through employer levies to support training and educational needs. There is a need for legislation to unlock...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Third Level Education (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: I agree with Deputy Cummins. We are very much on the same page on this. With regard to talent from abroad, I want Ireland to be a welcome place for scholars but that includes supporting our own - the people already here - and attracting more. The best-in-class research and innovation, STEM and humanities studies all work best when people collaborate at every level, including...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Grant Payments (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: I thank the Deputy for her question. Was that Question No. 3?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Grant Payments (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: I thank the Deputy for her question and interest in the area. She is her party's spokesperson in this area and I wish her well in that role. I look forward to working with her across the floor in the coming years. Regarding students who are considered to be dependent at the age of 23, this is part of the wider student grant system and scheme, which is kept under continuous review....

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...