James Lawless
Kildare North · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“I am always open to feedback. The academics and authors of that report are entitled to their views, as are others. I just do not share all of their conclusions. As the Deputy said, the consultant spending was before my time. A lot of it was before the Department even existed.”
“More broadly, and this is something I think there is great potential to do more on, we are also promoting modern methods of construction, MMC, so we can embrace 2D or 3D models where they are either partially assembled off site and then brought to the location or almost fully assembled and the finished kit is brought into place.”
“In the energy space, that includes a commitment of €10 billion to enhance the grid capacity, because we need to be able to transit the energy as well as generate it, the workforce and the talent to do that - everything from retrofitting to green energy technicians and renewable energy engineers.”
“The capital funding envelop available to me is the mechanism through which I fund these projects, which is significant with €4.55 billion allocated across my Department for capital projects. SETU is the relevant institute in the south east, and it has multiple campuses, including a presence in the Xcelerate Centre at St.”
“I will recap on some of the measures I have introduced already because it is important to put them on the record again. In the previous budget, I was pleased to introduce the first ever permeant fee cut for students since free fees were introduced almost 30 years ago with a €500 permanent reduction.”
“Exactly. That is why we have a record €4.5 billion commitment across the sector. Regarding student facilities, there is the likes of the bundle 2 PPP programme which enhances student facilities on university campuses across the country.”
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“Somewhere, maybe in many places, in those 400 events are our future clinicians, climate scientists, engineers, farmers and entrepreneurs. These are the people who will write the next chapter of Ireland's story. I am looking forward to attending a few of the events. Later this afternoon, I will launch the Museum of the Moon festival at Merrion Square, which runs from this evening until Saturday. This features a 7 m illuminated moon sculpture mapped using NASA imagery and offers visitors an extraordinary opportunity to experience the moon up close, complemented by musical performances. I thank Members of the House for the support shown for Science Week.”
“From its origins as a small series of outreach events launched by the Royal Dublin Society in 1995, the initiative has grown to become a truly interactive and countrywide calendar showcasing the marvels of science. Now co-ordinated by Taighde Éireann-Research Ireland, Science Week has become a key event across Ireland connecting young and old with science through a broad range of opportunities and events. I am delighted that my Department has continued its support for this year's programme, with over €847,000 in funding provided for 36 projects through Research Ireland. During the week, almost 400 events, involving 200,000 participants, will be hosted in schools, libraries, theatres, town halls, community centres, markets, homes and other venues nationwide.”
“A critical element is ensuring that the public are aware of the broad range and value of current research activity and that science and technology are something all our citizens are comfortable engaging with, are aware of and are happy to discover more about. I am delighted, therefore, to have the opportunity to highlight the range of Science Week 2025 events taking place across the country to celebrate the vital role that science plays in our everyday lives. The theme - "Then. Today. Tomorrow." - encourages all of us to explore how scientific research has evolved over the years, assess the role science plays in our lives today and look to the future to consider how science might shape tomorrow.”
“I am told that quantum computers will be able to perform calculations in seconds that currently take up to a year on a regular computer. Frontier discoveries sometimes seem abstract but they are what gives us vaccines, clean energy and digital tools. Many of the key technologies and innovations of modern life came about by accidental discovery. They were not the outcome of the initial experiments; they were something that was found along the way but which became a seismic shift in the relevant field. As the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, I am conscious of my role in not only delivering a robust research and innovation system today but also ensuring that we develop the talent and skills to create, nurture and maintain our world-class research system into the future.”
“Last night, I had the opportunity to visit the Posters in Parliament exhibition in Leinster House 2000. This involves a team of young undergraduate researchers showcasing their work in an exhibition in Leinster House, one of five parliaments around Europe that will give that opportunity to young researchers. All of those young students are the scientists, groundbreaking engineers and rising stars of the future. It is through that investment and activity in research and innovation that we will deliver a step change in areas such as environment, technology and healthcare. Fundamental blue sky research can provide new answers to questions we have not thought of yet and drive paradigm shifts like those we see in AI and quantum.”
“Her success continues to ripple around Ireland because every time a global company looks at our research capability, every time a young student in Cork imagines a career in science and every time a team at the Tyndall National Institute secures a new partnership, Dr. Kelleher's achievements, and those of so many more like her, are part of the reason and part of the inspiration - if you can see it, you can be it. It is also a great beacon for Ireland in those international boardrooms. That halo effect of one person's education nurtured here went on to create opportunity far beyond themselves. During Science Week 2025, when we celebrate curiosity, talent and possibility it is a reminder that the next Dr. Ann Kelleher may already be sitting in a classroom, visiting a Science Week event or engaging with scientists for the first time.”
“A breakthrough in material science leads to warmer homes and lower bills. An artificial intelligence model becomes a faster way to diagnose and treat cancer. A new bioprocess becomes a new regional employer. For everything there is a catalyst and then there is a reaction, and often there is a chain reaction leading on to the applications and impact of the research and the science, as well as the science itself. One story captured this very well. During my recent visit to the Tyndall National Institute in Cork, in the middle of a discussion on microneedles, quantum materials and future technologies, the team there mentioned a graduate of whom they are very proud, Dr. Ann Kelleher, who began her journey in UCC and went on to lead the technology development at Intel, becoming a vice president globally of Intel's technology chain.”
“I am delighted to be here to open this debate to mark Science Week 2025. As Minister for science - in fact, I have a long title and science is a key part of it - it is so important we mark this event and occasion. The Irish physicist John Tyndall once observed, “Knowledge once gained casts a light beyond its own immediate boundaries.” Ireland’s future lies in its people. Through supporting our innate curiosity and by encouraging our latent talent, Ireland can play a leading role in addressing key challenges and drive competitiveness into the future. As a small, open economy without obvious natural reserves of oil or gas, our natural resource is knowledge and our competitive edge is talent and our people. When science moves, everything around it moves also. This is what we sometimes call the "halo effect".”
“My vision is of an economic driver and an equal enabler to enable equality of access and opportunity and, through that, drive the economy. I thank Senators for the opportunity for the debate and for staying for it. It is useful to have the interaction. I know they do it in here, but I ask them to please continue to approach me with ideas, thoughts, suggestions and critiques when they need to. My door is always open.”
“That is fantastic. I would have loved to have met him. He is sort of an icon. What was really fascinating about him was his battle on the council in Sheffield in the seventies and eighties. When he got to be Home Secretary he had a certain level of support. It was even more remarkable that he was able to cut through the feuding and challenges we all have coming through local government. He is a remarkable man and has a remarkable story. I always think of people like him when I am making these assessments. I was very pleased to be able to allocate additional moneys into those funds. Of course, there was an additional €1 million for mental health in the budget as well. To reiterate and as was said, education has the potential to be transformative.”
“He travelled by train to Westminster from his constituency of Sheffield every week. What was really remarkable was that he went on to be Home Secretary and a number of things. He was visually impaired.”
“The school is in challenged circumstances in the Pearse Street area. I met some of the students and talked about maths and maths week. We did some kind of maths magic, which is a fun way to engage their minds in it. I recognise Senator McCarthy's work. He mentioned the Bobinac twins. I know them both. I met them at the Senator's various functions locally, but they are a really great example of how education can lift all and really elevate. They are wonderful young men doing really great work. I thank Senator Martin Conway for his contribution. I have increased the fund for students with disabilities by €3 million this year. I am delighted to be able to do that. There is different additional funding that goes with the rest of it. I often think of David Blunkett, who was a Labour Party Secretary of State in the UK.”
“It uses a particular model there where the trainee dentist gets going on week two or week three on actual dummies and mannequins, unlike traditional models where it is all book learning for year one or two and then going to year three. It is a different way of delivering it. It is a very modern school there. I was delighted to be able to fund that and support it in that. We need to continue that across other fields. I would be happy to visit GRETB with the Senator. I was in Mervue at the start of the summer. I know the Minister of State, Deputy Harkin, has been down as well. I would be happy to take up that invitation at some stage. Senator McCarthy is gone, but I am very familiar with his work. I visited a school in the Trinity access programme just last week for maths week.”
“He made a really good point about timetabling. We talk about utilisation of facilities. If we have labs, ETB buildings and apprenticeship schools, they are sitting idle for half the day or for one of the days. My own daughter recently graduated. There is often one class on a Friday for an hour. Students may be commuting 90 minutes each way to get up and down for that one-hour class. Students may be juggling a part-time job as well, not to mention going to the library and all the other things such as having a social life. It is a real issue and I am going to commission a piece of work into the utilisation to see if we can do better. Senator Scahill talked about the 1,100 additional places and dentistry, and he is right. I was very pleased last week to be able to visit RCSI and I have funded it for 35 additional places in dentistry.”
“I know Senator Alice Mary Higgins is gone now, but I listened to her with interest. I met the South African Minister Manamela and his delegation. I had them in my office at the time. I also met his counterpart, the Minister for innovation, when I was in South Africa for G20 recently. It was a very good interaction. Senator Higgins made a good point about needing space and time to think innovation through in terms of research. It comes dropping slowly. The point was well made. I note the points made about Horizon as well. I thank Senator Paul Daly for his comments and support. There were some hairy moments. In any Department, there always will be. I do my very best to deliver the best package with the resources available to me, which, unfortunately, are finite. The NTF Bill is going through, as are the apprenticeships.”
“There are all sorts of things people have to do. There is a small amount of money there for a pilot scheme to look at the needs students have, the different expenses that arise and whether there is an equitable way we can provide funding to those who need it most. That is something I am very mindful of. I have also commissioned a piece of research on the impact of different interventions so that we can understand as many levers that we can more around the cost of education, what levers are the most appropriate and what will deliver which results. On the sex for rent Bill. I am familiar with that and the work of the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan. When I was chair of the committee, we did a piece of work on that. It is important that this is tackled. Senator Cosgrove spoke to the apprenticeship piece and the borrowing framework.”
“We also fund a number of research projects through the shared island initiative on an all-island basis. Senator Harmon spoke about Funding the Future. I reiterate my commitment to that. The National Training Fund legislation has now gone through Second Stage in the Dáil. That is coming through. I have also commissioned research on the impacts of different student support interventions. It is very useful to get that feedback, whether on fees, grants, more innovative measures. Under apprenticeships, Senator Cosgrove spoke to the cost of equipment. In this year's budget, I have allocated a relatively small amount of money, €500,000, for a pilot around equipment placement for students or apprentices who have to purchase a lab coat, a tool or an instrument or who have to spend a week in the Gaeltacht.”
“I ask the Members to bear with me on that and to be conscious of the issues. On the Irish language, I attended BIPA on Monday last week and met some Welsh colleagues who talked about the work they had done on the Welsh language. It is a good model to follow and it is something I will be engaging on with the committee on the Irish language. On North-South interactions, just yesterday the Minister in the Northern Ireland Executive, Caoimhe Archibald, and I jointly launched the first all-island apprenticeship with Accounting Technicians Ireland. I was proud to be able to do that. It is a 32-county model. The learning outcomes, curriculums and examination process are synchronised across the whole island. I hope to do a lot more of that. That is the first of many.”
“To be honest, there is a challenge around that because, under legislation and the statutory framework, a traditional university can borrow off its own balance sheet but, because of how the legislation is structured, technological universities borrow on the State books, which brings EU state aid rules into play. Various different qualifications go with that. Approval is needed from the Departments of Finance and public expenditure. Other checks and balances get loaded onto that. It is more difficult. It is something I am acutely aware of. I have probably met all of the presidents of the TUs. I am working with my colleagues, the Ministers for Finance and public expenditure, to advance a proposal. I hope to see progress on that very soon, by the end of the year. It is not simple, however.”
“It is based on architectural consultation. It is on a par with Oxbridge, the Ivy League in the United States and the Nordic universities. It is no way a yellow-label solution. It is a practical solution that seeks to optimise the number of bed spaces and things like shared lounge spaces and common areas. The output is high-quality but there is a standardised design, which should make it more efficient for developers, builders and architects to get to work and maximise the number of beds available. That is very important. In addition, 30% of those beds are ring-fenced for SUSI recipients. That is important for equity. A number of people mentioned the borrowing framework. I am working on that.”
“It also commits to continuing to increase targeted measures such as those I have spoken about, SUSI grants, the thresholds and so forth. Among the other points Senator Kennelly made, he raised SOLAS and apprenticeships. I have addressed that backlog and secured additional funding to clear it. To respond to Senator Tully, I mentioned fees. We talked about the ambition in that regard a minute ago, although the fiscal reality is that we can only do so much. Every euro we spend on one thing is a euro we cannot spend on something else. On student accommodation, as the Senator rightly said, we do not need bells and whistles and frills in every single student accommodation development. We need to make them more affordable. I completely agree. In June, I published the student design guide. That provides a template.”
“The programme for Government, which is my bible and guides everything I do, talks about a continued reduction, which I have started this year. That does not mean we will not get there. I cannot look forward to the next five years because we do not know what the fiscal situation will be. We do not know what kind of shocks or black swans will arise. We had three black swans in the last five years. Nobody could have predicted that. In the last Government, the Minister, Deputy Foley, brought in free schoolbooks and free school meals. They were not in the programme for Government so, just because it is not there, it does not mean it cannot be done. The yardstick I work to is the programme for Government, which commits to a continued reduction.”
“There is a different sum to get there. I would like to do a number of other things, some of which we discussed in this House last year. Earlier in the year, Senator Dee Ryan brought up larger families where there are multiple siblings in college at one time. There is a number of other things I am working on and trying to pilot but some of them take time to process. It takes time to design the policy intervention and get it through. In short, there is a number of things I would like to do around student supports next year, the year after and for as long as I continue to serve. I welcome the engagement from this House and from the Members because it is in these exchanges that we come up with ideas. A few colleagues mentioned the abolition of fees. That is not in the programme for Government.”
“We need targeted interventions such as the maintenance grants, raising the thresholds and increasing funding for students with disabilities as well as universal measures such as fees cuts. I say these are universal but really they affect middle- and higher-income families because lower-income families do not pay fees at all because they are covered by SUSI. That is particularly true now, when the threshold is up to €120,000. Some families that would have paid €2,000 last year will get paid €2,000 because the thresholds have gone up. A family with an income of €119,000 will have the €500 permanent cut that is there for everybody but they will also have the new €500 fee grant because the threshold is €120,000. This year, that family is paying €2,000, which is the same as they did last year. They are getting there in a different way.”
“These are all things I have addressed in this budget. I will go as far as I can on the fees each year but there is a significant cost to doing that. This year, when I had less than €300 million in new money, €110 million would have been expended on a €1,000 reduction. What should have I cancelled? Would it have been the mental health measures, which cost €1 million? Would it have been the changes to the thresholds, the targeted maintenance grants, the pay deal, Funding the Future or student accommodation? There are choices. Every choice has an opportunity cost associated with it. This budget was the first of what I hope to be a five-year term. I will work to expand on these measures every year and to make college more affordable but I firmly believe this should be done through a combination of measures.”
“That is being addressed. I have worked that through. Clearing that backlog did require additional funding but it is now progressing. Senator Kennelly welcomed the permanent reduction in fees. I thank him for that. It is certainly very positive. It is permanent and is now constant in the baseline forevermore. A number of Senators asked about where we go next. As I said in a recent press conference, there is no limit to my ambition but there is a limit to my resources. I will make a general comment across the board. We have heard various calls, all of which I agree with. We must honour the pay deals that have been negotiated. We are also talking about Funding the Future, research and innovation funding, student accommodation, increasing grants and thresholds, disabilities and mental health.”
“He was rightly shocked that there were no apprentices at the time he inquired. We have an action plan for apprenticeships in the public sector. We should lead by example. If we are going to encourage and call upon private companies to hire apprentices, we need to be doing the same. We have an action plan as to how to do that, which I brought to Cabinet just recently. It is growing and we are getting there but we have a long way to go. There are a number of apprentices in my own Department, including a digital marketing apprentice. As the Senator rightly said, there are now many different types of apprenticeships across many fields that might not even have been considered many years ago. That is certainly coming through. The Senator also referred to underfunding in respect of the backlog at phases 2 and 4 of apprenticeships.”
“Senator Paul Daly met with the IUA and other stakeholders and the point was reaffirmed that it is imperative to invest in infrastructure and to implement Funding the Future, the Government response to the Cassells report. I am doing that through the National Training Fund. A Bill in that regard passed Second Stage in the Dáil just last week and will now move swiftly to Committee Stage. I expect it will make its way here in the near future. That is very important and it is something we are very much working on. I will pass Senator Joe Conway's regards on to my mother. She was my original educator and also worked in education for many years. It is good to hear that she and the Senator have that friendship. With regard to apprentices in the councils, I heard the story the Senator told regarding Waterford City and County Council.”
“I thank all of the Senators very much. I had a prepared speech but I am going to set it aside because it would be far more useful to reply to the contributions made in the course of the debate and to engage with the different points that were made. There was a lot of commonality in the contributions, which makes that easier. I thank Senator Dee Ryan for the reminder that Donogh O'Malley was from Limerick. I have no doubt that the Senator will also go on to great things in the fields of education and politics. Donogh O'Malley led the way, followed by Lemass and Whitaker. That was the beginning of the construction of the knowledge economy we so rightly prize today. Senator Ryan also made a number of points regarding the National Training Fund, as did many other speakers.”
“An additional €79 million was allocated in budget 2026, bringing the total up to €410 million, which is double what the funding was only five years ago. Registrations continue to increase for apprentices. It is an outstanding path to follow for young people so inclined. I have much more to say, but I will leave it there for now. I look forward to listening to comments from colleagues.”
“There is a question of whether it should become more of a graduate school option and if we should have more graduate entry into some courses, as we have already, and if we should widen this approach. Things like tertiary degrees are also very innovative. I am initiating work around this reform, the entry points and how this process works. I think this will be beneficial, as will the consultation as it goes on. I am focusing heavily on research and innovation. I am working on a new research infrastructure fund that will support research and innovation in our universities, across our HEIs and in collaboration with industry, using best practice on a global stage to harness the innovation and talent we have strongly in this country. The apprenticeship system has the highest budget ever this year.”
“Turning to pathways into education, I heard several people raise the issue of the Central Applications Office, CAO, system, the leaving certificate model and the points race. I met representatives of a number of student unions before the budget. I also meet them on an ongoing basis. I had a number of consultations with them to understand their challenges and requests. One of the issues that comes up is the CAO system. The issue crystallises around this aspect, but it is really about what happens with the leaving certificate examinations, the results and the points. It is about what the pathways into third level are and whether we should have wider access points and wider subject choices, with specialisation deferred until later in the system.”
“We have also published the design guide to support the delivery of student accommodation, optimise construction and development and to come up with a standardised set of architectural blueprints so design providers, HEIs, developers and people in the sector are guided. These are reflected in section 28 guidelines to local authorities. This means a set of templates is available to those providing accommodation that optimises the number of beds while providing appropriate leisure and other support amenities. I continue to engage with the Minister for housing, Deputy James Browne, on the rent pressure zone, RPZ, review to ensure students are protected and afforded the maximum protection under the new rules that will come into effect next year.”
“These supports are to recognise this situation and give these students that little bit of additional support. The rent tax credit has also been extended to 2028. I hope this will also be of some assistance. We are beginning to see some of the projects coming good. Maynooth University’s new 116 beds have now come on stream. I was delighted to be there myself recently to open Teach Uí Bhuachalla. I also turned the sod at University College Dublin, UCD, for an additional 493 new beds. Those units are now under construction. I was happy to sanction €67 million to go towards that project.”
“I am engaging on an ongoing basis with the Minister for Finance to ensure that is maximised to incentivise the delivery of student accommodation. There are an additional 15,000 beds with planning permission in the system that have not yet progressed. This measure, among others, may be the incentive that is needed to kickstart that development. I mentioned already that I have also increased the maintenance grants for the first four base grant cohorts, the special rate and the non-adjacent band 1, 2 and 3 rates, for students living 30 km or more from their place of study. This benefits 30,000 students, who will get additional support of between €200 and €460 per student. This is to reflect the fact that students who are non-adjacent, 30 km or more away from their college, obviously have greater expenses in terms of travel and accommodation.”
“We are all well aware of the challenges of student accommodation in terms of affordable rents and supports for that and also viability in terms of challenging the sector to do more, provide more and incentivising investment in it. Accommodation remains one of the most significant challenges facing students. My Department is working on a student accommodation strategy, which I expect to conclude by the end of the year. It will increase supply, improve viability and address affordability while again giving the most help to those who need it the most and focusing support on a socioeconomic basis to give people in disadvantage additional help over and beyond what might be done on a universal basis. A VAT reduction from 13.5% to 9% on the sale of apartments is included in the Finance Bill.”
“The disabilities demonstration project, which was launched this year, is a pilot scheme to study, engage and consult in order to understand what is the best policy framework for flexible, appropriate, responsive supports for students with disabilities to help them transition into education, further and higher education and beyond that into employment. That is very much a reflection of our commitment to equity, inclusion and our obligations under the UN conventions and other human rights instruments. Those reforms build on a series of actions across the board, some of which I have outlined. We are also removing fees in further education to expand eligibility and increasing maintenance rates. Funds for disability are up. Mental health supports are up and fees are down. That is very much the direction of travel that I want to continue.”
“I have increased maintenance grants across the four base levels - a special rate and the three non-adjacent bands. That means true inclusion and access. I have also widened the pathways for students with disabilities. I increased the fund for students with disabilities by €3 million, comprising an additional €1 million in higher education and €2 million in further education. Through PATH 4, 195 students with intellectual disabilities are now enrolled across 11 higher education institutions, which is a milestone in building an inclusive system.”
“It is so important that as well as working on fees we also work on targeted measures to give the most help to those who need it most. In addition to strengthening the student grant scheme, the SUSI income threshold has been raised to €120,000, the highest level in the scheme's history, allowing thousands more families to qualify for support. To put it in context, Oireachtas Members, certainly if they are the single earner in a single-income household, would now qualify for SUSI supports. It is not unreasonable to say that is a high threshold, the highest it has ever been. Everyone at or below it will now see some form of support. Up to 30,000 students living further from home, more than 30 km from their place of study, will benefit from the non-adjacent grant categories and will receive additional maintenance grant support.”
“Of course, I am aware that some students received higher subventions last year and in the previous year, but they were temporary, uncosted and unsustainable one-off measures that were not there on a year-to-year basis. They were not part of the baseline. I have spoken to many students and their families who told me that caused understandable anxiety and uncertainty and gave rise to questions every summer about what would happen next year. I can tell them what is going to happen next year, namely, that those fees have been reduced by €500 for good. I may well bring fees down further as the overall budgetary picture allows me to, but they are going in one direction, which is down, and that is there to stay. I am also looking at the student grant scheme.”
“I will begin by talking us through budget 2026, where I have done my very best to match available resources to the best possible return for the sector and to maximise the opportunities available. Let me start with one of the most pressing issues for students and families, the cost of education. Despite ongoing monetary pressures, affecting various cost-of-living measures, etc., that were available in previous years but were not available this year, which made the job of Ministers across the board more challenging, I was still delighted to be able to take a major step forward by securing a ring-fenced fund of €53 million to permanently reduce the student contribution fee by €500, which brings real relief and certainty to over 108,000 students next year. That is in fact the first permanent reduction in 30 years.”
“It was always envisaged as being a driver of access and education but also of the economy, enterprise and the centre of our economic development. As well as being an education Ministry, which it patently is, I also see it as an economic Ministry, leading Ireland's response to global disruption. We are all well aware of the disruption and the challenges, trade winds and everything else that are coming towards us hard and fast. We are leading the response to that disruption through talent, science, skills and education. I am working on delivering sustainable reforms that expand and maximise access and opportunity, enhance quality and support world-class research.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Chathaoirleach agus na Seanadóirí. It is good to be here with them today. I see the same familiar faces of the spokespersons I know in the area. It is good to engage with them all both formally today and informally as we all work together in the course of the term. I thank them for their interest in the topic. I am grateful for the chance to speak about the priorities that reflect our commitment to inclusion, affordability and excellence within the further and higher education system. The story of my Department began five years ago when An Taoiseach, Deputy Micheál Martin, created it. It was in the Fianna Fáil manifesto coming up to the general election of that year. It is something I was proud to advocate for before I was ever a spokesperson or Minister for it.”
“Deputy Toole mentioned Louth and Meath Education and Training Board and Dunboyne, which is close to my heart as it is in my constituency. The Minister of State and I work are working on that issue in terms of colleges of the future. Time is against me so I thank all those who spoke. I paid close attention to them as did my officials and the Minister of State. We will take them all on board as the Bill progresses.”
“It is somewhere where we have an ongoing embrace of technology. This will allow us to access funding to embrace technology, move with the times and remain agile, responsive and flexible. He made a point about tertiary education being a combined platform across all the different fields. At the Labour Party conference in the UK, Keir Starmer spoke about how he is changing the rules. There was a target in the UK of one in two accessing higher education. He has now set a new target so rather than one in two going to university, two out of three will go to university or take up an apprenticeship. That is a much broader, more ambitious and more progressive aim. I conversed with some of my colleagues at the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly earlier in the week.”
“I share his welcome for the research and development tax credit and engaged with the Minister for Finance on that budget to ensure that was increased to 35%. Deputy Gogarty referenced the German system. I have seen the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft in action and some of the models they use there. I agree that it is probably the gold standard for apprenticeships. The Deputy spoke about dental places. I was in the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland yesterday and welcomed the 35 new places in Sandyford that are being provided in dentistry. The NTF includes €130 million in funding for dentistry, pharmacy, physiotherapy, veterinary and medical courses - all those healthcare professional courses. Deputy Shane Moynihan spoke about an agile and responsive workforce, which is so important.”
“Regarding investment in further education and training, we have Mount Lucas Construction Centre, the advanced manufacturing facility in Dundalk, the hospitality campus in Limerick, life sciences in Cork and many other facilities. I want to have more of those with the capital spend in this. I thank Deputy Maeve O'Connell for her comments and agree with her on the ongoing engagement with stakeholders. I welcome the fact that they were also going to come to the committee. Deputy Barry Ward made a few points about statutory interpretation. I will leave that to Mr. Justice Max Barrett to determine. He has a book on that. Deputy John Connolly spoke about the direct economic impact and long-term impact.”
“That is the purpose of this scheme. He mentioned a voucher scheme as did other speakers. This is something I witnessed in Singapore on a trade mission in the middle of the summer and I am open to investigating if we can do that in a way that promotes quality provision. I welcome the support of the Social Democrats for the Bill. Deputy Jen Cummins spoke about the capital uplift that is necessary and to allocate that across higher education institutes. She also spoke about Youthreach. I was in a Youthreach centre in Naas this morning. I was also with the Trinity access programme in Oriel House around the corner in Pearse Street earlier today. Some good investment in those facilities is really needed.”
“I am very proud that I was able to deliver a combination of targeted supports, including increases in maintenance grants, increases in thresholds, increases in funding for supports for students with disabilities and mental health difficulties, along with bringing in some universal measures such as the €500 cut in fees on a permanent basis, the largest ever package for apprenticeships, honouring national pay deals and the 1,100 additional healthcare places. I welcome the support of the Labour Party for the Bill. Deputy Duncan Smith referred to apprenticeships and capital facilities. I have said several times that this Department is an engine of economic growth as is education and innovation. The Deputy put it well when he said employer's PRSI funds your pension, while the NTF is there to fund your education and skills. I agree completely.”
“"Decarbonisation" can sometimes be an umbrella term. What we are really is modernisation, refurbishment, rendering things fit for purpose, taking brownfield sites, some of which are antiquated, and putting them back into action. It has been a learning experience providing modern state-of-the-art equipment and, in terms of universal access, making them available to learners with disabilities thereby broadening the pool of learners who can access the facilities, which is a good thing for the workforce. Deputy Ó Murchú spoke about the budget. I will not rehash this as we have had a number of debates on it.”