Results 241-260 of 6,340 for speaker:James Lawless

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (27 May 2025)

James Lawless: In line with Section 16 of the Higher Education Authority (HEA) Act 2022 the board membership for the Higher Education Authority consists of a Chairperson and 11 Ministerial appointed ordinary members (including one student representative). In accordance with sectoral legislation the Governing Board for each Higher Education Institute (HEI) shall comprise of 19 members, which includes nine...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (27 May 2025)

James Lawless: In line with Section 16 of the Higher Education Authority (HEA) Act 2022 the board membership for the Higher Education Authority consists of a Chairperson and 11 ordinary members appointed by the Minister (includes one USI representative). As the HEA is recognised as a State Board, the appointment process for new members, including the Chairperson, is managed by the Public Appointments...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (27 May 2025)

James Lawless: An open recruitment process for the new CEO of Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) is currently underway. This process is being supported by Forvis Mazars with the position also being advertised on the Public Appointments Service's website. The application deadline for this position was Monday 26th May 2025. Applicants will now be subject to a competitive shortlisting and interview...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (27 May 2025)

James Lawless: It is my intention to publish the 2025 Annual Options paper in the Autumn. The Options Paper will set out various options for further enhancement of supports for consideration as part of the budgetary process. I will have regard to a number of those options when making proposals in the context of budget 2026 discussions.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (27 May 2025)

James Lawless: I am pleased to confirm that all 16 of these post holders are now in place and provide direct support to students and staff. Since 2023, DFHERIS has provided ring fenced recurrent funding for dedicated Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Managers in higher education institutions. These roles support the implementation of the Ending Sexual Violence and Harassment Framework (ESVH) and will...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (27 May 2025)

James Lawless: The Race Equality Implementation Plan (2022-2025) was launched in September 2022. Additionally, in March 2023, the Anti-Racism Principles for Irish Higher Education Institutions were introduced, and seek to assist HEI leadership in efforts to foster a culture of racial equality within their institutions. The Presidents of 21 HEIs have signed and endorsed the Anti-Racism Principles for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (27 May 2025)

James Lawless: The information in relation to the further and higher education projects sought by the Deputy is detailed in the attached table. This listing represents the current position and is subject to ongoing change. Funding disbursed to date has been provided for projects where a contract has been awarded. For projects that have not reached tender and award stage the information on funding...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (27 May 2025)

James Lawless: The current Higher Education PPP Programme, originally announced as part of the Building on Recovery Capital Plan 2016-2021, includes eleven projects. This commitment to the PPP programme has been carried through into the current National Development Plan 2021-2030. Bundle 1, consisting of six projects, has five projects completed and one under construction, with a completion date in Q2...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (27 May 2025)

James Lawless: Reply not received from Department.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (27 May 2025)

James Lawless: I propose to take Questions Nos. 853 and 854 together. Decarbonisation is a fundamental objective in all public sector capital investment programmes. All capital expenditure proposals take climate impact into account prior to progression. The following measures are already being implemented to ensure that we meet the climate targets for the tertiary sector:The Energy Efficiency and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (27 May 2025)

James Lawless: My Department is currently in the process of developing an internal Capital Investment Framework to support its structured approach to long-term capital investment. This work is ongoing with a draft version expected to be completed by the end of the second quarter of 2025. This framework is not for publication; it is an internal document for the purpose of ensuring effective management of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (27 May 2025)

James Lawless: Universities are autonomous institutions within the meaning of the Universities Act 1997. Under the terms of this Act, the governance and performance of these institutions are matters for which the Governing Bodies and the management of the relevant institutions are responsible. Presidents of Universities, as the Accountable Person for the institutions, are accountable to the Oireachtas for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (27 May 2025)

James Lawless: The Technological Sector Strategic Projects Fund (TSSPF) was launched in February 2022 to support additional capacity and infrastructure improvements in the technological university sector. During December 2023 and January 2024, my department progressed four projects to the next stage of development which is the Pre-Tender – Project Design, Planning and Procurement Strategy stage....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (27 May 2025)

James Lawless: There are a number of site acquisitions required to support the progression of projects under the Technological Sector Strategic Projects Fund and the College of the Future Major Projects Fund programmes, once their preliminary business cases meet the robust requirements of the Infrastructure Guidelines. Work is ongoing on a number of potential sites which include a new South East...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (27 May 2025)

James Lawless: Reply not received from Department.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (27 May 2025)

James Lawless: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Apprenticeship Capital Allocation provides funding in the FET sector. This fund is managed by SOLAS on behalf of my Department. The Apprenticeship Capital Allocation for 2021 – 2024 was:2021 – € 9.8m.2022 – € 5.1m.2023 – € 17.2m.2024 – € 27.1m.Agencies under the remit of my Department, such...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (27 May 2025)

James Lawless: The projects, in my Department, under the Strategic Infrastructure Upgrade Fund are detailed in the attached. This listing represents the current position and is subject to ongoing change. Cost have been provided for projects where a contract has been awarded. For projects that have not reached tender and award stage the information on costs is treated as confidential and commercially sensitive.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (27 May 2025)

James Lawless: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department issued approval in October 2024, to Mayo Sligo Leitrim Education and Training Board via SOLAS, for refurbishment works to deliver a NZEB Training Centre at Collooney, Sligo. Works are currently on site with the project expected to be delivered in 2025.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (27 May 2025)

James Lawless: My Department is engaging with SOLAS in respect of a project for a new NZEB training facility in Ballyfermot for City of Dublin Education and Training Board (City of Dublin ETB). City of Dublin ETB is reviewing options for the delivery of a new training facility. Until that process concludes, it is not possible to give a timeframe for the commencement of any works.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (27 May 2025)

James Lawless: The projects on hand, in my Department, under the Minor Capital Projects Grant are detailed in the attached. This listing represents the current position and is subject to ongoing change. Cost have been provided for projects where a contract has been awarded. For projects that have not reached tender and award stage the information on costs is treated as confidential and commercially...