Results 41-60 of 7,021 for speaker:James Lawless

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Costs (4 Nov 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). In line with the rules of progression as set out in Article 17 of the 2025 Student Grant Scheme there is no provision to award a grant to a student who is pursuing a level 6 course who already holds a higher education and training...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Programmes (4 Nov 2025)

James Lawless: My Department is committed to breaking down cost barriers, making Further Education and Training (FET) and Higher Education (HE) more accessible than ever before. Direct financial supports are provided to eligible learners. In FET, courses are free or heavily subsidised. Learners in receipt of social welfare can transfer to a learner allowance when participating in certain courses....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Budget 2026 (4 Nov 2025)

James Lawless: SOLAS feeds into my Department’s estimates process to the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, setting out the projected FET and apprenticeship funding requirements for the following year. As part of this year’s estimates process, SOLAS did not make any specific requests for additional funding for financial literacy for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions (4 Nov 2025)

James Lawless: Under legislation, higher education institutions (HEIs), such as universities, have autonomy in relation to their admissions. Irish HEIs utilise the CAO, a non-profit private company, to centrally and impartially manage the admissions processes and instruct the CAO to make offers on their behalf to applicants. Neither I nor my Department has a role in matters relating to these processes.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Costs (4 Nov 2025)

James Lawless: The Student Assistance Fund (SAF) provides financial assistance to students experiencing financial difficulties while attending higher education. Students on full or part-time courses leading to a higher education award (NQF level 6-10) in the universities, institutes of technology and other approved colleges can apply for the SAF. Therefore the cohort of student's you refer to are eligible...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Reports (4 Nov 2025)

James Lawless: The Deputy will be aware that the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Boards requires all state agencies to include a report of any consultancy based expenditure in their annual financial statements and annual reports. There is no statutory requirement to provide this information to the public on their websites. However, some state agencies may voluntarily choose to publish this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Costs (4 Nov 2025)

James Lawless: The Student Assistance Fund (SAF) provides financial assistance to students experiencing financial difficulties while attending higher education. Students on full or part-time courses leading to a higher education award (NQF level 6-10) in the universities, institutes of technology and other approved colleges can apply for the SAF. The SAF is available to assist all students from approved...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Schemes (4 Nov 2025)

James Lawless: I am very conscious of the significant difficulties that face students where their parent or both their parents have died. I would advise any student who suffers the loss of a parent/parents during their college years to contact the Department of Social Protection as soon as possible to check what direct supports may be available to them including Guardian’s Payment:...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Inquiries (4 Nov 2025)

James Lawless: My Department approved an allocation of €17m for the Higher Education Apprenticeship Expansion Programme 2023, to deliver an additional 132 apprenticeship craft training blocks, which are providing additional capacity at Phase 4 and Phase 6 in the higher education sector. This investment by my Department is facilitating the expansion of electrical apprenticeship provision (12...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (4 Nov 2025)

James Lawless: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2155 to 2157, inclusive, together. The Electrical apprenticeship, as with all craft apprenticeships, has seven phases. Three of these phases, 2, 4 and 6 are off-the-job training. Phase 2 training is provided in an Educational Training Board (ETB) while phases 4 and 6 are provided in a Higher Education Institution. Both phases 4 and 6 are of a 10 to 11 week...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Advertising (4 Nov 2025)

James Lawless: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2158 to 2160, inclusive, together. Ireland needs people with construction skills and experience to help deliver on ambitious targets for new housing and infrastructure. The National Development Plan outlines a record €275.4 billion in public capital investment, aiming to secure Ireland's future, to transform the country, unlock housing, upgrade water...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Construction Industry (4 Nov 2025)

James Lawless: Ireland needs people with construction skills and experience to help deliver on ambitious targets for new housing and infrastructure. The National Development Plan outlines a record €275.4 billion in public capital investment, aiming to secure Ireland's future, to transform the country, unlock housing, upgrade water and energy infrastructure, deliver more roads, and provide better...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (22 Oct 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. A Part-Time...

Seanad: Higher Education: Statements (21 Oct 2025)

James Lawless: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Chathaoirleach agus na Seanadóirí. It is good to be here with them today. I see the same familiar faces of the spokespersons I know in the area. It is good to engage with them all both formally today and informally as we all work together in the course of the term. I thank them for their interest in the topic. I am grateful for the chance to speak...

Seanad: Higher Education: Statements (21 Oct 2025)

James Lawless: I will of course.

Seanad: Higher Education: Statements (21 Oct 2025)

James Lawless: I thank all of the Senators very much. I had a prepared speech but I am going to set it aside because it would be far more useful to reply to the contributions made in the course of the debate and to engage with the different points that were made. There was a lot of commonality in the contributions, which makes that easier. I thank Senator Dee Ryan for the reminder that Donogh O'Malley...

Seanad: Higher Education: Statements (21 Oct 2025)

James Lawless: That is fantastic. I would have loved to have met him. He is sort of an icon. What was really fascinating about him was his battle on the council in Sheffield in the seventies and eighties. When he got to be Home Secretary he had a certain level of support. It was even more remarkable that he was able to cut through the feuding and challenges we all have coming through local government....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Contracts (21 Oct 2025)

James Lawless: I can advise the Deputy that the costs of the tendering process in respect of the Higher Education PPP Bundle 1 was as follows: 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 €347,530.00 €949,733.00 €227,072.00 €187,884.00 €43,551.00 The cost of the tendering process in relation to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (21 Oct 2025)

James Lawless: The Higher Education Route (HEAR) and the Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) are operated by the Irish Universities Association, on behalf of the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and my Department has no remit for this scheme. Under HEAR & DARE each institution determines its own admissions policy, the number of places to be reserved and the the allocation of those...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (21 Oct 2025)

James Lawless: The purpose of the Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD) is to assist higher education institutions in ensuring students with disabilities have the necessary assistance and equipment to enable them access, fully participate in and successfully complete their chosen course of study. The FSD is one of the main funding sources supporting participation by students with disabilities in...