Results 721-740 of 6,340 for speaker:James Lawless

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (27 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: In line with Section 24 of the Universities Act, 1997, the Governing Authority is responsible for the appointment of a person to be the chief officer (President) of its university. The Minister has no role in this process. The position of President in the University of Galway has been vacant since Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh resigned from his position on September 6th 2024....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (27 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: The Funding the Future Framework published in May 2022, outlines the vision for how higher education will be funded and how this will support students, employers and wider society. The Framework identified an amount of €307 million as representing the quantum of increase in core funding required to deliver enhanced performance, strategic reforms and strengthened quality of outcomes. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (27 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: My Department's Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 aims to make apprenticeship visible and recognised by learners, employers, family and career guidance professionals by promoting and incentivising uptake on apprenticeship programmes as an attractive route to qualifications and a career. Targeted financial supports are offered to apprentices through the Access to Apprenticeship...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Language (27 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: Our higher education system plays an important role in supporting and promoting the use of the Irish language. I am determined to see that students who wish to learn and continue to use Irish at third level be given opportunities to do so. To this end, officials from my Department sit on the Steering Committee for the new policy on Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht. It should be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (27 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: The new Student Accommodation Strategy is currently at development stage. In this strategy, my focus will be on increasing the supply of student accommodation to benefit students and to free up private rental homes. I will focus on a combination of digs accommodation, examination of vacant properties, and the development and leasing of purpose-built student accommodation. I will also...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (27 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: I propose to take Questions Nos. 48 and 61 together. I remain committed to easing the financial burden on students and families in accessing education and training. In advance of Budget 2026, and as my Department did last year, I will be publishing an options paper which will set out the various possible measures to address the costs of education. This will include options in relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (27 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: As the Deputy will be aware, students eligible for the Free Fees Initiative have their tuition fees paid by the State, exclusive of the student contribution. Over 143,000 undergraduate students benefit from the scheme each year, at a cost of over €368 million. This universal scheme is paid as a grant on behalf of students without any means testing. Students pay a student contribution...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (27 Mar 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: Departmental Policies (27 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: Green skills are essential for ensuring Ireland achieves our targets set out in the Climate Action Plan 2024. My Department has been working with the tertiary sector to develop the skills required to support the green transition – from developing transferable green skills for life to specific requirement for emerging key green sectors such as Nearly Zero Energy Buildings/ Retrofit,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (27 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: I propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 54 together. A key pillar in my department's Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 are to ensure that apprenticeships will be recognised and valued by employers across all sectors of the economy as a key mechanism for building a highly skilled workforce. To incentivise participation in apprenticeships, a grant of €2,000 per year per apprentice...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (27 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: As part of the Student Accommodation Short-Term Activation Programme, the University of Galway received approval to progress a proposed leasing project for approximately 242 additional beds over 15 years, subject to review. An assessment was commenced by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) as part of the due diligence process, however during the ongoing assessment the proposal was...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (27 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: An apprenticeship system that delivers a highly skilled workforce which contributes to maintaining productivity, competitiveness and sustainable growth in the economy is a priority for government. The Action Plan for Apprenticeship published in 2021 has been, and remains, a key pillar in my department's workplan to achieve this goal. Significant progress has been made since 2021. This...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (27 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: The Deputy will be aware that Galway Roscommon ETB (GRETB) have been supported by SOLAS in developing their Preliminary Business Case (PBC) proposal for Galway City under the Further Education and Training (FET) College of the Future Major Projects fund. The development of a robust PBC is fundamental to the requirements of the Infrastructure Guidelines. The proposal put forward by GRETB...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (27 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: There has been significant investment in the growth of apprenticeships since the creation of this Department in 2020 and we are on track to reach the target of 10,000 registrations per year by 2025. One of the main objectives of the Apprenticeship action Plan 2021-2025 is for apprenticeships to be recognised and valued by employers across all sectors of the economy as a key mechanism for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (27 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: A new student accommodation strategy is in development following Government approval of the long-term policy in January 2024. The strategy will include measures to increase the supply of student accommodation, reduce the cost of delivery through standardised design guidance and promote efficient use of existing building stock through refurbishment and an examination of vacancy, while...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Artificial Intelligence (27 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: Reply not received from Department.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (27 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: My officials are working closely with the Department of Health to expand the healthcare workforce capacity of the country, including oral healthcare. My Department does not place a quota on dental courses, and therefore the number of places offered is a matter for the higher education institutions, in line with their autonomy. However, I do acknowledge that due to a high level of practical...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (27 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: The Further Education and Training (FET) College of the Future Major Projects Fund was launched to address existing deficits in FET infrastructure, to support projects that drive reform of the FET sector and to facilitate consolidation and integration of further education and training. In September 2024 following an evaluation process, six proposals met the relevant criteria and were...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (27 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: Under Budget 2025, additional funding was announced for Research Ireland in order to increase its PhD stipend level to €25,000, i.e. an increase of over 31% in two years. This announcement builds on the increases secured under preceding Budgets, demonstrating my Department’s consistent focus and progress on this issue. It has come into effect from 1 January 2025.In doing so,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (27 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: SOLAS, in collaboration with my Department, is currently developing the new FET Strategy for 2025-2029, which will build on the growth of the sector to date, further empowering individuals, communities and businesses to achieve their full potential. Since its establishment, my Department has taken steps to ensure that the necessary infrastructure is in place to support the...