Results 61-80 of 6,836 for speaker:James Lawless

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (30 Sep 2025)

James Lawless: I propose to take Questions Nos. 973 and 974 together. 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,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (30 Sep 2025)

James Lawless: The Deputy will be aware that higher education institutions are autonomous bodies and are responsible for their own day-to-day management and operational affairs, including the collection and usage of student levies. Under Section 40(1) of the Universities Act, 1997, and Section 24(1) of the Technological Universities Act, 2018, HEIs have scope to charge additional fees to students for a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (30 Sep 2025)

James Lawless: The issue of restrictive licensing models – such as metered access or limited-term licences – for e-books and journals is a matter of concern for higher education institutions (HEIs) and their libraries. However, this issue has wider implications – for public libraries and individual consumers. Intellectual property policy and consumer protection fall within the remit...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (30 Sep 2025)

James Lawless: As the Deputy may be aware, my department provides support for broadening access to Graduate Entry Medicine programmes through the part-subsidy of fees for EU students. This subsidy is paid to the higher education institutions via the Higher Education Authority, with the balance being paid by the student. Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) is an accelerated four-year programme designed for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (30 Sep 2025)

James Lawless: I understand that there are many costs that come with being a student and that education is an investment in one's future. I believe that there should be as much transparency as possible for students regarding the costs they may encounter while studying. It is my and my department's intention to continue to improve the quality of information available to students and prospective students....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (30 Sep 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. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Reviews (30 Sep 2025)

James Lawless: Following a competitive procurement process conducted by the Higher Education Authority (HEA), Applied Inspiration Ltd have been appointed as the independent consultants to complete a Midterm Progress Review of the National Access Plan (NAP). This project commenced in April 2025. The review is expected to evaluate the extent of progress against the actions underpinning each NAP objective...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (30 Sep 2025)

James Lawless: There are currently 78 apprenticeship programmes available to learners. 25 of these are traditional craft apprenticeships and 53 are post-2016 consortia-led apprenticeships. Post 2016 consortia-led apprenticeships have fixed intake timing, with a set intake number of training places and funding. Off-the-job training and progression of the apprentice is facilitated based on the academic...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (30 Sep 2025)

James Lawless: The Government is committed to supporting apprenticeships, with €67 million allocated in Budget 2024 and €77 million allocated in Budget 2025, bringing the total budget to €339 million in 2025. This is an 84% increase from the apprenticeship budget of €184 million in 2020, the year in which my department was formed. The demand for craft apprenticeships has...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (30 Sep 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. The annual rates and the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (30 Sep 2025)

James Lawless: In May 2025, Springboard+ 2025 was launched, providing 7,719 places on 249 courses. Included in this list are 26 ‘micro-credentials’ courses which are suitable for those interested in shorter courses to upskill in very specific areas. The course list includes a range of critical skills areas, including renewable and offshore wind energy; infrastructure planning; sustainable...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (30 Sep 2025)

James Lawless: My Department is not responsible for the funding of music generation and ETB music services. This may fall under the remit of the Department of Education and Youth.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (30 Sep 2025)

James Lawless: The Deputy will be aware, further to Parliamentary Question No. 985 of 17 June 2025, that TrustEd Ireland – a new international education quality mark – is being introduced by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI). As part of the application process for authorisation to use the TrustEd Ireland mark, education institutions are required to submit information on the number of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (30 Sep 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 Admissions (30 Sep 2025)

James Lawless: 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 process 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. However, together...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Language (30 Sep 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. The Higher Education Authority Act 2022 highlights the importance of the Irish language by placing a responsibility on the Higher Education Authority...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Language (30 Sep 2025)

James Lawless: Our higher education system plays an important role in supporting and promoting the use of the Irish language. The Higher Education Authority Act 2022 highlights the importance of the Irish language by placing a responsibility on the Higher Education Authority (HEA) to ensure that higher education institutions (HEIs) promote and use the language. My Department, through the HEA, also...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (24 Sep 2025)

James Lawless: There are no unoccupied publicly owned Purpose Built Student Accommodation complexes in the state. Privately owned PBSA are a matter for their owners and are outside my remit. I do not have the information sought as to how many unoccupied complexes are in the State at present.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (24 Sep 2025)

James Lawless: Currently, the median aggregate completion time for an apprenticeship is 228 weeks, including a 12 to 16 week period required for Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) validation and processing, indicating that most apprentices are completing their apprenticeship within a timely period. Craft apprenticeships involve scheduled off-the-job training according to the specific programme and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (23 Sep 2025)

James Lawless: DFHERIS is strongly of the view that research staff in all higher education institutions across the sector should be able to access a public service pension scheme. Officials from my Department have submitted a business case to the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to support access to the single public service pension scheme for those...