Results 161-180 of 7,021 for speaker:James Lawless

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (16 Oct 2025)

James Lawless: I am committed to the apprenticeship model of learning. It is a proven pathway to a valued qualification and employment. Since 2019 the total apprentice population has grown from 17,829 to 29,772 as of the end of last year. This has been matched by an increase in investment from €142m in 2019 to over the €400m earmarked for apprenticeship in 2026. Currently there are 19...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (16 Oct 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. Student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (16 Oct 2025)

James Lawless: A proposal to develop a Wexford Campus is being progressed under my department’s Technological Sector Strategic Projects Fund. Over the last number of years, SETU have been working with Wexford County Council (WCC) to help identify an appropriate site for a permanent home for their Wexford Campus. As part of this engagement a preferred site was identified. However, following a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (16 Oct 2025)

James Lawless: The current Action Plan was launched in 2021 with key goals for apprenticeship around growth, improving the profile of apprenticeship, improving access and supports for apprentices and employers, along with increasing the footprint of apprenticeship in the public service. We have seen strong progress across these headings. Since 2019, the last pre-pandemic year, the total apprentice...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (16 Oct 2025)

James Lawless: The development of diverse and progressive pathways for learners in further and higher education outside of the traditional CAO route is a key strategic goal of DFHERIS. The development of tertiary programmes, Further Education & Training routes to higher education such as the Higher Education Links Scheme (HELS), and supported part-time provision are some of the key areas which my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (16 Oct 2025)

James Lawless: The Department notes that the student in question was unable to undertake her preferred work placement, having been refused on medical grounds. Under the Universities Act 1997, higher education institutions such as University College Cork operate with autonomy in the management of their academic, administrative and student affairs. This includes responsibility for addressing student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (16 Oct 2025)

James Lawless: It would not be appropriate for me to speculate on the projected number of shared-bedroom student accommodation developments that may commence construction during the lifetime of this Dáil. However, I can confirm that at the end of September, 1,637 beds were under construction nationwide. Planning permission has been granted for a further 15,132 beds, including 2,948 public beds. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (16 Oct 2025)

James Lawless: Students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply directly to their HEI for support under the Student Assistance Fund. Latest figures show that almost €13 million was distributed to students from the Student Assistance Fund to assist with accommodation related costs in the 2023/24 academic year. In relation to distribution of emergency...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (16 Oct 2025)

James Lawless: The Deputy will be aware that I have secured funding in Budget 2026, to permanently reduce the Student Contribution charge by €500. This flat rate reduction will reduce the rate from €3,000 to €2,500 and applies from the current academic year (2025/26). It is anticipated that this Budget 2026 measure will benefit around 108,000 undergraduate students and 14,000...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Traveller Community (16 Oct 2025)

James Lawless: Ensuring equal access to education for all is a core priority for this Government. The Traveller and Roma Education Strategy (TRES), a key action under the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy (NTRIS) 2024–2028, is supporting the delivery of our Programme for Government commitment to promote equality and inclusion for Traveller and Roma communities across all levels of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions (16 Oct 2025)

James Lawless: The CAO is an independent, non-profit private company. Its function is to process applications for undergraduate courses and some postgraduate courses on behalf of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The CAO plays an important role in ensuring applications to higher education are processed in a centralised, efficient and impartial way. Every year over 80% of CAO applicants receive an offer...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: EU Funding (16 Oct 2025)

James Lawless: Ireland is designated as a programme country under the Erasmus+ programme. As part of the programme, each programme country must nominate a national authority to monitor and supervise the management of the programme at national level. Ireland’s nominated Erasmus+ national authority is based in my Department. As national authority, my Department has designated the Higher Education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Budget 2026 (15 Oct 2025)

James Lawless: As I stated in the House last week, during the discussions earlier this year on the National Development Plan, I secured an allocation amounting to some €4.55bn over the coming five year period. I also noted that I intend to allocate €2.3bn of this to funding for Ireland’s research system. In 2026, my Department will have a total capital allocation of €810m. I...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Artificial Intelligence (15 Oct 2025)

James Lawless: My Department is currently considering potential use cases for the adoption of AI in its work, and a working group has been established to progress this. Limited circumstances in which AI is currently used include summarising text and workshop structuring. All text is reviewed and verified by a human. There are no AI systems in place that processes citizens' information. My Department...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (15 Oct 2025)

James Lawless: SOLAS continue to support Kerry ETB (KETB) in the development of its Preliminary Business Case (PBC) proposal for Killarney under the FET College of the Future Major Projects fund. The proposal is one of twelve projects that are currently being progressed under this fund. The proposal put forward by KETB under the FET College of the Future Major Projects fund aims to transform FET...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (14 Oct 2025)

James Lawless: 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. DDLETBs proposal is expected to encompass the transformation of FET provision in the area by developing a state-of-the-art further education campus to drive economic growth and social development. The site...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (14 Oct 2025)

James Lawless: As the Deputy is aware, the decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the awarding authority, SUSI to determine. Under the Student Grant Scheme for approved full-time courses, income of the applicant from employment which represents holiday earnings outside of term time (Easter, Summer and Christmas holidays) can be deducted when determining the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Reports (14 Oct 2025)

James Lawless: My Department publishes its annual consultancy spend on the Department website. Please find a copy of the link to this information here - www.gov.ie/en/department-of-further-and-higher-education-res earch-innovation-and-science/organisation-information/depart ment-consultancy-spending/ The Deputy will note the names of companies whose services were procured and the costs spent in each...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (14 Oct 2025)

James Lawless: The Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) programme is designed to provide specific vocational skills to those who have completed senior cycle, to adults returning to education deemed to have the necessary competencies, and to those who are unemployed and seeking to upskill. PLC courses represent the largest component of full-time Further Education and Training (FET) provision at NFQ level 5-6. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (14 Oct 2025)

James Lawless: By way of background, Local Training Initiatives (LTIs) are community-based training programmes designed to support individuals who face economic, social, geographic, or educational disadvantage. The training programmes offered are tailored to meet specific local needs, ensuring relevance and impact within the community. LTIs are independent organisations, with their own independent Boards...