Results 561-580 of 6,513 for speaker:James Lawless

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (20 May 2025)

James Lawless: On behalf of my Department, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) appointed an expert multi-disciplinary design team to research and develop new design standards for State supported purpose-built student accommodation. The development of the new design standards will be key to establishing best practice and value for money for the State, ensuring additional supply for students, and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (20 May 2025)

James Lawless: Stage 1 of the Technological Sector Student Accommodation Programme (TSSAP) included the development of a supply and demand model and a programmatic approach for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to submit preliminary business cases for student accommodation. Following submissions from the HEIs last year, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) undertook an evaluation of these preliminary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (20 May 2025)

James Lawless: Stage 1 of the Technological Sector Student Accommodation Programme(TSSAP) included the development of a supply and demand model and a programmatic approach for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to submit preliminary business cases for student accommodation. Following submissions from the HEIs last year, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) undertook an evaluation of these preliminary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (20 May 2025)

James Lawless: For institutions other than traditional universities to borrow, a consultation process with the Higher Education Authority (HEA) is required. This would necessitate the establishment of an appropriate framework setting out the criteria, financial and non-financial, including governance, oversight and reporting to define the operational process through which such consent would be sought and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (20 May 2025)

James Lawless: In advance of Budget 2026, I will publish the annual options paper which will set out various possible measures to address matters pertaining to the cost of education. This paper facilitates a public discussion on the various choices available to amend student supports, including the Student Assistant Fund. These options will be considered as part of the deliberations around Budget 2026. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (20 May 2025)

James Lawless: The 2024 Rent-a-Room campaign highlighted the effectiveness of targeted messaging and multi-channel outreach in increasing the availability of 'digs' accommodation. Central to the campaign’s success was clear communication around the financial benefits of the Rent-a-Room scheme to homeowners, including tax relief and disregards for social supports. Following a review of the 2023...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (20 May 2025)

James Lawless: In recent years, demand for craft apprenticeships has surged. Craft apprenticeship registrations increased by 34% over a five-year period, from 5,300 in 2019 to 7,100 in 2024. This increase, allied to physical closures of training venues as part of the pandemic response, led to a situation of insufficient capacity to meet growing demand. In November 2023, the National Apprenticeship...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (20 May 2025)

James Lawless: I was pleased to announce the key findings from the latest National Survey of Apprentices at the end of April (assets.gov.ie/static/documents/National_Survey_of_Apprentic es_2024-2025_Infographic.pdf). This comprehensive survey of 5,500 apprentices reaffirms the value of apprenticeships in delivering strong, relevant learning and career outcomes in 77 national occupations, with a growing...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (20 May 2025)

James Lawless: A Locally Devised Assessment (LDA) refers to an assessment created by a Further Education and Training (FET) provider to evaluate learners' skills and competencies in a specific course or module. These assessments align with the learning outcomes set by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) or potentially other awarding bodies but are designed locally to suit the needs of learners and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (20 May 2025)

James Lawless: Locally Devised Assessment (LDA) fees are paid to assessors in respect of devising and assessing Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) modules on full-time programmes at levels 5 and 6 of the National Framework of Qualifications. For historical reasons, there are also thirty-one level 4 modules for which LDA fees are paid, where they form part of the QQI major award at level 5. Rates...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (20 May 2025)

James Lawless: I propose to take Questions Nos. 928 and 929 together. Under the Short-Term Activation Programme, funding was allocated to Higher Education Institutions with Purpose-Built Student Accommodation projects that had secured planning permission but had stalled due to viability challenges. As part of the funding conditions, a proportion of the new student beds will be ringfenced for students...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (20 May 2025)

James Lawless: As part of the emergency response to support persons from Ukraine, a Temporary Tuition Fee Support Scheme was introduced. The temporary supports helped Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) to undertake undergraduate or postgraduate courses in academic years 2022/23; 2023/24 and 2024/25. For 2022/23, 310 students availed of the Temporary Tuition Fee Support...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Meetings (20 May 2025)

James Lawless: I can confirm to the Deputy that I met the CEO and Chairperson of SOLAS on 6th February. I am planning to meet with the SOLAS Board and my officials are liaising with SOLAS in relation to the arrangements for this meeting.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (20 May 2025)

James Lawless: Higher Education Institutions are autonomous institutions responsible for their own academic affairs including the development of relevant curriculum, setting tuition fee rates, and student numbers on individual courses. The fee payable by a student can vary depending on a variety of factors including the type of course and the student's access route. The assessment of a student’s...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (20 May 2025)

James Lawless: The potential cost of making adjustments to the student contribution under the Free Fees Initiative may vary from year to year, depending on the number of eligible students attending higher education and the number of students availing of student contribution supports from SUSI. My Department published an Options Paper in 2024 where the cost of reducing the student contribution by...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (20 May 2025)

James Lawless: Within the Further Education and Training (FET) sector, SOLAS manages the Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD) which supports eligible students on Post-Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses so that they can participate on an equal basis with their peers. Based on the 2024/2025 academic year, approximately 6% of PLC learners have availed of FSD supports. SOLAS have advised my officials...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (20 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 with a pro-rata effect from...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (20 May 2025)

James Lawless: The Government recognises third level education can be a significant cost for families and students. In budgets 2023 and 2024 My Department was able to provide further financial assistance to students most in need by increasing maintenance grant rates.Effective from January 2023, all maintenance grant holders received an increase in their grant rate of between 10% and 14%.Effective from...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Bodies (15 May 2025)

James Lawless: The Research and Innovation Act, 2024 enacted following approval by both Houses of the Oireachtas provided for the establishment and functions of a statutory body to be known as Research Ireland, the dissolution of Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), as well as the transfer of the activities as respects research and innovation carried out by the Irish Research Council (IRC) in the Higher...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (15 May 2025)

James Lawless: I am conscious of the fiscal 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. Specifically, in relation to the matters raised, it is important to note that all students eligible for the Free Fees Initiative...