Results 521-540 of 6,513 for speaker:James Lawless

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: The policy objective of both the Free Fees Initiative (FFI) and Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), is to help as many students as possible to obtain one qualification at each level of study and to support progression year on year within the same course. In terms of tuition fee supports, first time students undertaking a full-time undergraduate course may be eligible to have their...

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

James Lawless: My Department and I are committed to improving access to higher education for students throughout the country. A range of initiatives support this ranging from targeted financial supports to institutional investment, all aimed at breaking down barriers and ensuring that students, regardless of background or location, can pursue their ambitions in higher education. My Department is committed...

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

James Lawless: The primary objective of the new Student Accommodation Strategy which is in development is to address affordability and supply of student accommodation. My focus is on delivering targeted interventions that advance equitable access to higher education. To effectively address the challenges in student accommodation, we are employing four key tools: the development of standardised design...

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

James Lawless: Government policy, as set out in Impact 2030, Ireland’s national strategy for research and innovation, identifies Talent as one of its five key pillars. Pillar 4 of Impact 2030 outlines my Department’s strategic approach to continuing to support researchers throughout their career, including emerging researchers from students to early post-doctoral researchers. It also outlines...

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

James Lawless: I fully understand the importance of adult education and its ability to empower individuals, enhance their learning and provide new opportunities. These courses also serve as important social outlets for participants. As Minister, I have no role in the day-to-day operational management of Education and Training Boards (ETBs), which are independent statutory bodies. It is the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Health Services Staff (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: This Government is prioritising workforce planning across health and disability services, including in Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy and Physiotherapy disciplines. An interdepartmental working group is currently underway with senior officials from my Department, the Department of Health, HSE, HEA, Department of Education and Youth, and Department of Children, Equality...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) is a pathway for degree holders who want to pursue a medical career on an accelerated four-year programme. Students pursuing GEM programmes do so as second degree courses and consequently are not eligible for free fees funding. They are also not eligible for funding under the Student Grant Scheme as they do not meet the progression criteria of the Scheme. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Climate Change Policy (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: The climate and renewable energy sector presents significant economic and business opportunities, particularly in the development of Ireland’s offshore wind industry. By 2030, Ireland aims to achieve at least 5 GW of installed offshore wind capacity, with an additional 2 GW under development for non-grid applications, including green hydrogen. This ambitious growth requires a strong...

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

James Lawless: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the awarding authority, SUSI to determine. Postgraduate students who meet all the conditions of the Student Grant Scheme may become eligible for the following supports: A student Maintenance grant which was restored in September 2024 for the first time since the financial crash. The annual rates and the...

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

James Lawless: Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland was established on 1st of August 2024, as the new competitive research and innovation funding agency for Ireland. The Irish Research Council (IRC) was dissolved on 4 November 2024, in line with the provisions of the Research and Innovation Act 2024, and all functions of the IRC were transferred to Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland. In terms...

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

James Lawless: Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are autonomous under the relevant legislation and the management of their academic affairs is a matter for individual institutions. It is my understanding that all HEIs have procedures under 'exceptional circumstances', and absences for mandatory assessments can be brought to the attention of the HEI for consideration. The National Access Plan for...

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

James Lawless: Government has invested significantly in expanding the number of apprenticeship opportunities for students over recent years. In Budget 2025 €77 million was allocated to apprenticeship, representing the single biggest increase in core funding for apprenticeships since the establishment of this Department. The total current budget for apprenticeship is €339 million, which...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: Higher Education Institutions are autonomous with regard to management of their academic affairs. This includes determining tuition fee structures and the fee requirements for students undertaking a course that includes a placement element. It is not open to my Department to intervene in the policies of the institutions.I appreciate that a student undertaking a placement, where they are not...

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

James Lawless: The disruptive impact of the Covid pandemic on students at Higher Education was immense and this impact resulted in positive and negative outcomes - one such positive was the overnight transition to remote teaching, learning and assessing. This necessity served to demonstrate the capacity of remote teaching to increase access to further and higher education for students in rural and isolated...

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

James Lawless: I am committed to the promotion of deep and meaningful North-South collaborations across the tertiary education system.The Deputy will be aware that opportunities for cross-border collaboration are available as part of the EU PEACEPLUS programme, specifically under Investment Area 2.3, which focusses on skills development. ETBs such as Cavan-Monaghan, Donegal and Mayo-Sligo-Leitrim are...

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

James Lawless: Supporting the participation and success of learners with disabilities is a critical national priority. Good progress is being made as part of the National Access Plan to increase new entrants to higher education institutions with a disability. The latest figures available to the Department show this figure has increased to 14.7% for the 2023/2024 academic year form 12.4% at the start of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (22 May 2025)

James Lawless: I am very much aware that the rising cost of living continues to impact students and their families. The Government, through successive budgets, has sought to reduce the cost of higher education including through improvements to the student grant scheme. For the first time ever, a new part-time fee grant scheme came into effect in September 2024 for specified undergraduate courses. This...

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

James Lawless: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. I am committed to reaching a solution for an appropriate Youthreach facility to be leased in Macroom. My Department issued permission to Cork 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...

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

James Lawless: I am committed to breaking down cost barriers and to making further education and training (FET) more accessible than ever before. FET courses are free or heavily subsidised. My Department also provides direct financial supports to eligible learners. Learners in receipt of social welfare transfer to a FET training allowance when participating in certain courses. The rate depends on an...

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,...