Results 141-160 of 5,782 for speaker:James Lawless

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 (UG) received approval to progress a leasing project for approximately 242 additional beds over 15 years. An assessment was commenced by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) as part of the due diligence process, however during the assessment the proposal was withdrawn by the vendor. The...

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: Student Accommodation (27 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: With the new Student Accommodation Strategy, which is in development, I am seeking to both increase the supply of student accommodation to benefit students and also free up private rental homes. To achieve this, the focus is on a combination of digs accommodation, an examination of vacant property, and the development and leasing of purpose-built student accommodation. I will also examine...

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: Student Accommodation (27 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: Following the publication in 2015 of the Higher Education Authority's report on Student Accommodation: Demand & Supply, the first inter-departmental working group on student accommodation was established. This group supported the development of the first national student accommodation strategy 2017-2024 and monitored its implementation. The Departments of Finance, Public Expenditure...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Disability Services (27 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: This government is prioritising workforce planning needs across health and disability services. My officials and I are working closely with other Departments to support workforce planning responses by creating additional places in areas of acute skills need, ensuring a pipeline of qualified graduates for our health and social care workforce. I recently met with cabinet colleagues, the...

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

James Lawless: Craft apprenticeships are a vital route to qualification and employment for the construction sector, and strong employer demand has led to a 34% increase in craft apprenticeship registrations since 2019, increasing from 5,300 in 2019 to 7,100 in 2024. My Department continues to oversee the implementation of a priority plan put in place in November 2023 by the National Apprenticeship Office...

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

James Lawless: A priority for my department remains the continued growth of the national apprenticeship system to meet Ireland’s skills needs now and into the future. Pipefitting is a craft apprenticeship programme that takes 4 years to complete, with off-the-job training phases delivered through Education Training Boards (ETBs) and Technological Universities (TUs). Munster Technological...

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

James Lawless: As was announced in 2024, a Master of Pharmacy and a Veterinary Medicine degree in South East Technological University have been recommended for progression under the HEA Expression of Interest process. It is anticipated that these programmes will have their first intake in September 2026, with up to 40 students on each programme. Engagement with the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland and...

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

James Lawless: Higher Education Institutions are autonomous bodies who regulate their own administrative and academic affairs, including in relation to issues such as timetabling and usage of space. My Department supports Further and Higher Education Institutions in delivering courses which are flexible to suit learners needs, whether full time, part time, evening or weekend. Many HEIs already provide...

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

James Lawless: In the new Student Accommodation Strategy, which is in development, my focus will be on increasing the supply of student accommodation to benefit both students, and free up private rental homes. I will focus on a combination of digs accommodation, examination of vacant property, and the development and leasing of purpose-built student accommodation. I will also examine sustainable...

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

James Lawless: As the Deputy is aware, my Department increased the hourly rate of pay for personal assistants by 43%, bringing the rate from €14 per hour to €21 per hour, plus 8% holiday pay in response to discussions between a representative group of personal assistants and the former Minister in my Department, Tánaiste Simon Harris. In 2024, FÓRSA submitted a claim to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Energy Conservation (27 Mar 2025)

James Lawless: Green and sustainability-focused skills are essential for meeting this Government’s ambitious climate targets set out in the Climate Action Plan, in particular the target to retrofit 500,000 homes to BER B2 standard by 2030. My Department directly supports a broad range of initiatives to ensure that workers are equipped with the skills required to meet these challenges. ...

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

James Lawless: I thank the Deputy for her question. In line with the Programme for Government commitment to provide a step change in the supports and services required by people with disabilities, making education accessible for everyone is the hallmark of this Government’s approach to the Further and Higher Education sector. My Department is working to make the system more responsive to the...

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

James Lawless: This government is prioritising workforce planning across health and disability services, including in Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language Therapy disciplines. My officials and I are working closely with other Departments to address workforce needs by expanding training places in areas of acute skills shortages, ensuring a strong pipeline of qualified graduates for our health and...

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

James Lawless: The Department of Transport is responsible for transport policy and overseeing transport services and infrastructure. My Department is engaging with that department to facilitate the alignment of student accommodation policy with climate action requirements. The development of local area demand management schemes in conjunction with the relevant local authorities aims to provide targeted...

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

James Lawless: Through the new Student Accommodation Strategy, which is in development, my focus will be on increasing the supply of student accommodation to benefit students and also to free up private rental homes. I will focus on a combination of digs accommodation, examination of vacant property, and the development and leasing of purpose-built student accommodation. I will also examine sustainable...

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

James Lawless: The Funding the Future framework, published in May 2022, outlines the Government’s vision for how higher education will be funded and how it 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...

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

James Lawless: I would like to assure the Deputy that I fully understand the importance of adult education and its ability to empower individuals, enhance their learning and provide new opportunities. Ensuring access to education for adults is essential for personal development, career progression and community enrichment. As the state agency responsible for the further education and training sector,...

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

James Lawless: The main form of financial assistance available to higher education students is the Student Grant Scheme administered by SUSI. Maintenance grants under the Student Grant Scheme are awarded either at a higher non-adjacent rate or an adjacent rate, depending on the distance between the applicant’s normal residence and the college attended. As the Deputy may be aware I recently...