Results 61-80 of 6,210 for speaker:James Lawless

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Artificial Intelligence (28 May 2025)

James Lawless: I was happy to announce on May 13th that Government had given their agreement to my proposals to establish a Global Talent Initiative 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. My Department will continue their work with Taighde Éireann-...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (28 May 2025)

James Lawless: The data requested by the Deputy is contained in the attached spreadsheet. This data was sourced from the HEA Student Records System (SRS) and is year one student enrolment data for the most recent academic year available 2023/2024 for the disciplines requested. ">Year 1 Student Data

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (28 May 2025)

James Lawless: The potential cost of adjusting 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 qualifying for student contribution supports from SUSI. These variables make it difficult to estimate the potential cost over a three-year period. The €500 student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (28 May 2025)

James Lawless: Apprenticeship Instructors are public sector staff. The applicable pay rates for staff across the public sector are determined by national pay agreements negotiated with staff representatives and approved by Government. Any changes to pay can occur only through these processes, and any proposals would need to be considered in detail by the relevant Department and trade unions and the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: International Students (28 May 2025)

James Lawless: It would not be appropriate to estimate the costs involved given the hypothetical nature of the question. The Student Assistance Fund (SAF) provides financial assistance to students experiencing financial difficulties while attending higher education. Students can be assisted towards costs such as rent, childcare, transport and costs associated with the provision of books/class materials....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (28 May 2025)

James Lawless: It is important to note that there are no fees for undertaking a national apprenticeship programme. A student contribution fee is paid by all students, including apprentices, when attending Higher Education Institutions. A once-off reduction of up to 33% of this fee as a part of a cost-of-living package for students was announced in Budgets 2023, 2024 and 2025. I remain committed to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (28 May 2025)

James Lawless: Government supports craft apprentices through the provision of a state training allowance during each phase of off-the-job training. On average, a training allowance of €5,000 is provided to assist in off-the-job training, depending on industry and phase. An apprentice is paid every two weeks when they are on off-the-job training. This is based on the wage norms set out for that...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (28 May 2025)

James Lawless: Information to inform a response to the Deputy's question been requested from the relevant agency. I will be back to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (28 May 2025)

James Lawless: I propose to take Questions Nos. 426 and 430 together. For apprenticeship programmes developed before 2016, or “craft” apprenticeships, there are long-standing industrial relations mechanisms for determining pay where collective bargaining between industry and employee representatives determines rates. In the construction industry these rates are underpinned by a sectoral...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (28 May 2025)

James Lawless: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine. In relation to supports available for students studying outside of the State, the Student Grant Scheme provides maintenance grants to eligible undergraduate students pursuing approved courses in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (28 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: Third Level Fees (28 May 2025)

James Lawless: The Deputy will be aware that 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 funding under the Free Fees Initiative. They are also not eligible for funding under the Student Grant Scheme as they do not...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research and Development (28 May 2025)

James Lawless: The North-South Research Programme (NSRP) is jointly funded by the Higher Education Authority and the Shared Island Initiative. In March 2022, over €37million was awarded from the Shared Island Fund to support this programme, based on three strands, viz: (i) bilateral researcher-researcher projects (ii) emerging hubs of excellence (iii) Partnerships of Scale. Focusing specifically...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (28 May 2025)

James Lawless: My officials have been in contact with the Deputy's staff and we are awaiting clarification on this question.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (28 May 2025)

James Lawless: My officials have been in contact with the Deputy's staff and we are awaiting clarification on this question.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research and Development (28 May 2025)

James Lawless: Science Foundation Ireland stands dissolved as of 1 August 2024 under the Research and Innovation Act, 2024. All functions and funding for the agency have been transferred to the new competitive research and innovation funding agency Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland, which was established on the same date. Grants to Science Foundation Ireland were made in two ways (1) capital grants...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (28 May 2025)

James Lawless: My officials are in the process of obtaining the requested information from SOLAS and will forward a response to you separately. My officials will endeavour to provide you with the correct information, in the required format, as promptly as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (28 May 2025)

James Lawless: I would like to clarify that as part of Budget 2025 Cost of Living measures, for the 2024/2025 academic year, eligible post-graduate students benefited from a once off €1,000 increase to the Postgraduate Fee contribution rising from €4,000 to €5,000. Ahead of Budget 2026, I will publish an options paper, which will identify costs and potential impacts of various...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (28 May 2025)

James Lawless: With effect from September 2024, all student maintenance grants for eligible post-graduate students were fully restored for the first time since the financial crash. Eligible students also received a pro-rata increase effective from January 2024. The annual rates of maintenance grants payable and the income thresholds applied are now the same for undergraduate and postgraduate students. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (28 May 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 €307m as representing the quantum of increase in core funding required to deliver enhanced performance, strategic reforms and strengthened quality of outcomes. Over...