Results 441-460 of 6,340 for speaker:James Lawless

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (13 May 2025)

James Lawless: The decision on eligibility for student grant applications is a matter for the centralised grant awarding authority, SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Language (13 May 2025)

James Lawless: Our higher education system plays an important role in supporting and promoting the use of the Irish language. To this end, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) has a statutory responsibility to ensure that higher education institutions (HEIs) promote and use the language. However it should be noted that HEIs are autonomous bodies within the meaning of the Universities Act 1997, the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Staff (13 May 2025)

James Lawless: My Department has been working with Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland to establish a programme to bring global research talent to Ireland. At a time when uncertainty looms for many researchers around the world, Ireland offers stability, opportunity, excellence and a gateway to the EU. I am pleased to report that I have obtained Government approval to initiate such a programme. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (13 May 2025)

James Lawless: As the Deputy is aware, Further Education and Training (FET) includes a wide range of courses and programmes, from Level 1 to Level 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications. This encompasses everything from part-time, basic literacy courses to full-time, resource intensive programmes such as apprenticeships. SOLAS has advised my officials that the level of engagement, as well as the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (13 May 2025)

James Lawless: The Further Education and Training (FET) sector, under the remit of SOLAS as the statutory agency, plays a pivotal role in delivering high-quality, accessible education and training opportunities nationwide. FET provision is designed to be flexible and responsive, particularly for those balancing education with work or caring responsibilities. A wide range of part-time and modular programmes...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (13 May 2025)

James Lawless: My Department allocates funding to SOLAS from the Exchequer and the National Training Fund (NTF) to deliver Further Education and Training programmes and services by the 16 Education and Training Boards and other agencies throughout the country. The table below sets out the allocation to SOLAS in 2023, 2024 and 2025 as requested. The annual allocation to aegis bodies is included in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (13 May 2025)

James Lawless: In Further Education and Training (FET), courses are free or heavily subsidised. My Department also provides direct financial supports to eligible learners. Adult learners in receipt of a social welfare payment transfer to a FET training allowance when participating on FET courses. The rate of the FET training allowance will depend on an individual’s social welfare payment. A...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (8 May 2025)

James Lawless: There are 25 Craft Apprenticeship programmes offered across four families – Construction, Electrical, Engineering and Motor. A craft apprenticeship lasts for a minimum of four years, during which time apprentices spend three different periods in off-the-job training. The first off-the-job training phase, which is Phase 2 of 7 training phases in a Craft Apprenticeship, takes place...

Seanad: Higher Education: Motion (7 May 2025)

James Lawless: The Senator's last lines are good advice for anybody.

Seanad: Higher Education: Motion (7 May 2025)

James Lawless: I was just taking stock and this has been a good debate. I thank the Senators who brought forward the motion, and all who contributed. I am delighted to see the topic is getting air time in this House and the other House, because it is of such fundamental importance to our economy, our society and everything we do and have done as a nation. I am delighted this opportunity for all to have...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (7 May 2025)

James Lawless: My officials are examining this matter and will revert to the Deputy as soon as an update is available.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (7 May 2025)

James Lawless: An official from my Department contacted the Deputy’s office seeking information regarding the student to enable a more individualised answer. However, the official was advised that the student's parent did not want to provide any further information. In general, for student grant purposes, students are categorised according to their circumstances either as students dependent on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (7 May 2025)

James Lawless: The requirements on which information is being sought is a matter for the Department of Justice. However, my officials have been in contact with that department and I am advised that that Department will respond to you directly if you contact them.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ministerial Responsibilities (7 May 2025)

James Lawless: My Department has not yet made any Delegation Orders for the Minister of State. All delegation Orders are publicly available on www.irishstatutebook.ie.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (7 May 2025)

James Lawless: There is a comprehensive and ambitious set of commitments for research and innovation in the new Programme for Government. This work will be progressed via a number of national policies and strategies, under the national research and innovation strategy Impact 2030. The formation of Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland in August 2024 is designed to build a more effective and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (7 May 2025)

James Lawless: My Department is not aware of any application relating to the refurbishment of a disused protected structure for use as a Community Adult Education Centre for St. Mary’s Community in Limerick City. Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board has advised my Department that St. Mary’s Adult Education Centre operates as an outreach community education centre. It applies...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (7 May 2025)

James Lawless: I can confirm that any income received from a maintenance arrangement is regarded as reckonable income under the Student Grant Scheme 2025. However, where maintenance payments have been made under a legally enforceable arrangement to a separated spouse those payments are disregarded for the purposes of calculating the reckonable income of an Applicant. Further information on reckonable income...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Cycling Facilities (7 May 2025)

James Lawless: As the Deputy will be aware the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) was established in July 2020. Cycle to work scheme applications are processed by the Department of Education on behalf of my Department as part of Memorandum of Understanding between both Departments. The number applications processed on behalf of DFHERIS are as follows. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Undefined (7 May 2025)

James Lawless: On the matter of the pipefitting apprenticeship I welcome that the measures I have previously outlined are being implemented to address backlogs and capacity. I am advised that officials from my department have responded to you directly through the E-correspondence system regarding the details provided. I thank the Deputy for raising this issue.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Information and Communications Technology (7 May 2025)

James Lawless: Springboard+ 2025 has not yet been finalised, therefore it is not possible to provide the requested information in relation to 2025, at this time. The requested information is available in the table below for Springboard+ 2024: SPRINGBOARD+ 2024 Skills Area No. Courses No. Places Cost Artificial...