Results 1-20 of 5,263 for speaker:James Lawless

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Regional Development (24 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: I note everything the Deputy says in his very strong contribution. I reiterate that the goal and one of the core objectives of Project Ireland 2040 is strengthening rural economies and rural communities. Building up and improving services for the population requires significant investment in infrastructure, now and into the future. That is undoubted. Prioritising key social and economic...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Regional Development (24 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: Well, the fact it has actually happened is very welcome. I hear the points the Deputy makes. The Government will continue to make efforts to boost NDP delivery and to strive towards regional development.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Staff (24 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: I thank the Deputy. I had not been informed of the outcome of the October appeal. Deputy Tully is telling me it was also refused, is that correct?

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Staff (24 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: I will certainly pick that up with the Minister and have that discussion. I will make sure he is aware of it. Deputy Tully said there are three other children imminently to arrive in the school, is that correct?

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Staff (24 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: It is always difficult with education cases in any scenario, especially in cases when there are a set of rules and a case falls just below the line, such as in this case. I believe the numbers Deputy Tully suggested were 77 versus 78. These calls are always difficult ones. People who are on boards of appeal and hearings having to adjudicate on these cases always find themselves in a...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Regional Development (24 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: Yes. The best was saved to last. I thank Deputy Ó Cuív. Before I respond, I pay tribute to him and welcome his family. I have just been informed they are in the Public Gallery. I do not know whether he will have an opportunity to contribute again in this House in the coming weeks. Knowing him, I am sure he will find a couple more opportunities. I wish to put on record his...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (24 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: I thank the Deputy. I know what he is saying and I take careful heed of it. Perhaps such a meeting would be useful. It may be something that could be organised. I reiterate that the Minister has stated that Department of Education officials are very willing to engage with the patron on this matter. I am sure the Deputy's influence with the school carries a lot of weight. He might...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Staff (24 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: It is a busy afternoon, Ceann Comhairle. I thank Deputy Tully for raising this very important matter. I am glad to have the opportunity, on behalf of the Minister for Education, to update the House on the response. On primary school staffing, the key factor in determining the level of staffing resources provided to an individual school is the staffing schedule for the relevant school...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (24 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: I thank the Deputy for raising those concerns and this issue. I am glad to have the opportunity to work through the Department of Education's planning and how the model was arrived at whereby Ériu Community College will relocate from Hansfield to Hollywoodrath. To plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, the Department divides the country into 314 school...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (24 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: I pay tribute to the Deputy's ongoing advocacy for the special education sector and special educational needs resources. He has been a strong advocate for that over the last term. I am taking this question on behalf of the Minister for Education. I will outline on behalf of the Minister how the Department and the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, continue to support children...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (24 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: It is a complex matter, as I understand, and there have been a few twists in the tale already, which is probably unfortunate. I thank the Deputy for raising the question and for his continued advocacy for Ballincollig, Cork and the wider special educational needs sector over the past four and a half years. He has been a strong advocate for them. The Department continues to engage...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Driver Licences (24 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: I thank the Senator for raising this very important matter. I acknowledge his ongoing work and dedication to building relationships with legislators in other jurisdictions, working with both the Irish community and the broader community in other areas. This question is very much a thematic of his approach and I know that does not happen by accident but by hard work and diligence. These...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Driver Licences (24 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: I thank the Senator and I have carefully noted what he said. The argument is well made and I will be certainly happy to take that away and to do further analysis on it. I will ask the RSA to provide further detail on the analysis it undertook. I note also with interest that the Senator suggested that a Canadian province licence is compatible where there is perhaps an exchange agreement...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disability Services (24 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. I am aware of his ongoing advocacy for his constituency, especially the County Monaghan area. I know that this project is of great importance to him and the users of the service. I will take this opportunity to state the Government’s commitment to supporting disabled people to live ordinary lives in ordinary places, even...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disability Services (24 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: I again recognise the Senator's continued advocacy for this centre and for communities in County Monaghan. I once again restate the Government's commitment to providing services and supports for people with disabilities, empowering them to live independent lives, providing greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhancing their ability to tailor the supports required...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Prison Service (24 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: I thank the Senator. At the outset, I wish to acknowledge her advocacy for this sector and many other issues in the justice area. As she said, I had the pleasure of working with her on the justice committee for a number of years. I also thank her for arranging a visit to Mountjoy Prison in which I participated. She worked with the inmates through the medium of drama, essentially, an art,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Prison Service (24 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: Again, I thank the Senator for raising this issue. I note what she said in her responding remarks. As the Senator is well aware, sentencing practice and sentencing per se is a matter for the courts and the trial judge as opposed to any politician or government. The Prison Service is thereby obliged to accept into custody anybody who is sentenced. That is wholly a matter for the courts to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs (24 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: Go raibh maith agat. I thank the Senator for raising the matter. I stress that enabling students with additional needs to receive an education appropriate to their needs is an ongoing priority for the Government. The SET allocations provide additional teaching support for students with special educational needs enrolled in mainstream classes in primary and post-primary schools....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs (24 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: I thank the Senator for raising the question and giving me the opportunity to reassure him and the House that the Department of Education and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that all children can access an education suitable to their needs. Additional teaching and SNA resources are being provided in budget 2025 to ensure a record number of SETs and SNAs in schools in 2025, supporting...