Results 501-520 of 6,513 for speaker:James Lawless

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...

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

James Lawless: This Government is committed to creating an environment where enterprise can thrive, innovate, and drive job creation. As a member of the Government Trade Forum, and in engagements with IBEC and directly with employers, I have heard the key issues which enterprises are raising. I am committed to working in partnership to do everything at my disposal to ensure a responsive talent, skills and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: I would like to thank the Deputy for raising this important question. Supporting students in construction-related training and upskilling is a key priority for my Department, to meet national housing, retrofit and infrastructure targets. We have significantly expanded supports in recent years, including new and flexible programmes aligned with the evolving needs of the construction...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: My Department announced the Strategic Infrastructure Upgrade Fund (SIUF) programme call, in February 2022, to support the upgrade of Further Education and Training (FET) infrastructure for Education and Training Boards (ETBs). Its purpose is to provide for high-quality teaching and learning environments, aligned with the principles of the FET College of the Future. The SIUF was...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: The introduction of Professorships in the Technological Universities is a major priority for me, and is a key commitment of the Programme for Government. The creation of such posts was a significant recommendation of the 2022 OECD review on the development and reform of academic staff structures in the Technological University sector. These roles will enable the transformation of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: Thank you, Deputy, for this important question. I assure you that my Department is committed to improving the lives of people with disabilities in line with the Programme for Government. There are several specialist programmes within Further Education and Training, or FET, for learners with disabilities. Through Specialist Training Provision, ETBs contract providers, including the National...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: I am committed to reaching a solution for an appropriate Youthreach facility to be leased in Macroom. My Department issued permission to Cork Education and Training Board (ETB) to enter negotiations with Bus Éireann, the prospective landlord at the end of March. A due diligence process must now be completed, which considers value for money, assessment of needs, climate targets and...

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

James Lawless: Improving the rate of participation of the Travelling community in third level education is one of the key priorities under the National Access Plan 2022-2028. Far too few Travellers participate in higher education. The National Access Plan target is for 150 new entrants each year to higher education by 2028, but the latest figures suggest around 40 new entrants. Addressing this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: I thank the Deputy for his question. Louth Meath ETB (LMETB) is currently being supported by SOLAS in developing its Preliminary Business Case (PBC) proposal for Dunboyne under the FET College of the Future Major Projects fund and have met as recently as this month on this. The proposal put forward by LMETB relates to the development of a new fit for purpose facility on a green field site...

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

James Lawless: I look forward to consulting with stakeholders this year as my Department reviews the delivery of the current Action Plan, and develops a new 5-year strategy for the apprenticeship system from 2026. My priority is ensuring that the apprenticeship system is well equipped to continue to grow, to respond to the skills needs of industry, and to adapt to the challenges facing the workforce...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research and Development (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: I was happy to announce on May 13th that Government had given their agreement to my proposals to establish a Global Talent Initiative 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. My Department will continue their work with Taighde...

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

James Lawless: The development of diverse and progressive pathways for learners in further and higher education is a key strategic goal of myself and my Department. Tertiary programmes, first launched in July 2023, are a new kind of educational provision which allows a student to begin a degree course in further education, before transitioning on to complete their degree in a higher education setting. As...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: Dundalk Institute of Technology do not have their own purpose-built student accommodation, therefore their students rely on private providers, the private rental sector and digs. At present, there are 49 digs beds advertised by Dundalk Institute of Technology. In the last three years, 94 purpose built student accommodation beds have been completed in Dundalk. I understand there are an...

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

James Lawless: I am very pleased to be able to inform you, Deputy Connolly, that I have just announced that Galway and Roscommon ETBs (GRETB) proposal for a new FET College in Galway city has been successful in moving forward to the next stage of development - the Pre-tender, Project Design, Planning and Procurement Strategy stage. This is following the evaluation process which was undertaken in April. ...

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

James Lawless: The National Access Plan (NAP) 2022-2028 aims to support inclusion and diversity in the student body, address the wider struggles and challenges for students, and deliver sustainable progress. It recognises the needs of vulnerable learners, the most marginalised and those with experience of the care system. The plan targets and supports students who are socioeconomically disadvantaged....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Mental Health Policy (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: The issue of mental health and wellbeing is an important issue for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). In terms of funding available to the higher education sector, institutions receive funding from a variety of sources that contribute to the expenditure associated with the full range of institutional activities. My Department has provided €31.9 million to the HEIs through the...