Results 601-620 of 6,513 for speaker:James Lawless

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (13 May 2025)

James Lawless: Neither SOLAS nor my department is involved in the setting of wages for apprentices. Apprentices are employees and party to a contract of employment with their employers. For the 25 craft apprenticeship programmes, the minimum rates of pay applying under the contract of employment are either agreed within the relevant sector or are set out in legally binding Sectoral Employment Orders...

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

James Lawless: Higher Education Institutions are autonomous institutions responsible for their own academic affairs including the development of relevant curriculum, setting international tuition fee rates, and student numbers on individual courses. Tuition fees are subject to change. I understand that international fee rates can vary depending on a variety of factors, including the type of course and...

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

James Lawless: The Student Grant Scheme is a means-tested scheme. The numbers of students undertaking courses relating to micro-credentials who would meet the means tested criteria and other eligibility criteria for SUSI is not held by my Department and therefore I cannot provide an estimate as requested.

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

James Lawless: The Student Grant Scheme is targeted at those students who are most in need of financial assistance and the Special Rate of grant is a key tool in targeting student grant assistance at the cohort of students who are most in need. The qualifying criteria for the special rate of maintenance grant in the 2025 Student Grant Scheme are as follows: (i) The student must qualify for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (13 May 2025)

James Lawless: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1241, 1242, 1243, 1244, 1245, 1246 and 1247 together. Dublin and Dún Laoghaire ETB (DDLETB) are currently being supported by SOLAS in developing their proposal for Swords under the FET College of the Future Major Projects fund. The proposal put forward by DDLETB is one of twelve projects that are currently being progressed under this fund. The...

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

James Lawless: I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your question, and for the opportunity to outline the work my Department is doing to support the education and upskilling of planners and related professionals. The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science is acutely aware of the increasing demand for skilled professionals involved in the planning...

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

James Lawless: The main support available to students is the statutory based Student Grant Scheme which is administered by SUSI. Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to 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. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Bodies (13 May 2025)

James Lawless: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1250 to 1258, inclusive, together. My Department is not responsible for the direct management, governance or oversight of any non-governmental organisation (NGO).

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Scientific Research (13 May 2025)

James Lawless: As set out in the Deputy's question, the replicability of research findings has emerged as a concern in a number of fields in recent years, including life sciences. Clearly the reliability and robustness of research findings is central to scientific progress. The promotion of a culture of open research and research integrity can help support the achievement of these crucial objectives. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Scientific Research (13 May 2025)

James Lawless: Research integrity relates to the performance of research to the highest standards of professionalism and rigour, and to the accuracy and integrity of the research record in publications and elsewhere. It is essential that the Irish research system as a whole protects its reputation for the quality and integrity of its research activity and outputs. Research integrity is best ensured, in so...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Legislative Measures (13 May 2025)

James Lawless: The Universities Act 1997, Technological Universities Act 2018, and the Institutes of Technology Act 2006 are among the principal legislative instruments governing higher education institutions (HEIs) in Ireland. These Acts grant HEIs autonomy over their academic and administrative functions, including admissions policies. Most applications to higher education are processed through the...

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

James Lawless: For student grants 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 assessed as an independent mature student if he or she has attained the age of 23 on the 1st of January of the year of first entry to an approved course or of re-entry following a break in...

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

James Lawless: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1263 and 1265 together. 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...

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...