Latest news with #FurtherandHigherEducation
Irish Post
17-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Post
Government backs plan to boost Ireland's AI capacity by linking with EU superhub
THE Irish Government has backed plans to boost the nation's artificial intelligence capacity by linking to EU-based resources. A new proposal is being formulated to support Ireland hosting an AI Factory Antenna, which would link the nation with greater resources available elsewhere in the EU. Ireland's Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless confirmed the Government's support for the initiative, which will link Ireland directly to the French 'AI2F' Factory – a leading AI hub. Minister James Lawless 'The Irish centre would provide access to computing infrastructure, technical support, and training to help Irish innovators develop, test, and scale AI models and applications,' Mr Lawless' department confirmed. The move would give researchers, businesses, and public sector organisations in Ireland access to world-class AI computing power and expertise they claim. 'This is about ensuring Irish startups, SMEs, researchers and the public sector can fully participate in the next generation of AI innovation,' Minister Lawless said. 'By connecting to the French AI Factory, we will unlock cutting-edge tools and computing power for use here at home, with a focus on sectors where AI can make a real difference like health, energy and advanced materials.' He explained: 'This initiative will enhance Irish uptake of AI, enabling AI scaling and optimisation, in a way that is inclusive and affordable. 'It aligns closely with the 'AI Continent Action Plan', launched in April 2025, which sets out plans to establish the EU as a global AI leader. 'It is also fully in line with key Irish strategies such as the National Digital Strategy and the 'National AI Strategy' which Government recently agreed to update during 2025, signalling Ireland's ambition to remain a global AI and digital leader. 'We want Irish innovators to be AI creators and not simply users. I am also strongly committed to strengthening Ireland's High Performance Computing Infrastructure which is strategic investment in Ireland's digital future.' See More: AI Factory Antenna, Artificial Intelligence, Ireland
The Irish Sun
10-07-2025
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Extra €1k cost in ‘sucker punch' for 90k Irish as Govt accused of ‘adding fuel to fire' amid college fee reduction calls
THE government has been accused of delivering a "sucker punch" to Irish students, ahead of a plan which will see a extra €1,000 cost in college fees. Minister for Further and Higher Education, James Lawless, recently announced plans to scrap the cost-of-living reduction to third-level fees. 2 TD Mairead Farrell is condemning the government's actions, which will see student fees return to previous costly levels Credit: Alamy The reduction, which amounted to €1,000, was created to support students financially throughout the cost-of-living crisis. Its subsequent removal means fees will return to previous levels, increasing by €1,000 from last year. Farrell said: "Minister for Higher Education, James Lawless, sent real fear through households last Sunday when he said fees would go up by €1,000 because there was no cost-of-living package in this year's budget. READ MORE IN IRISH NEWS "This was the last thing students and their parents needed or expected to hear." She added: 'This is a sucker punch to families that have simply not planned or budgeted for an extra €1,000 for every student." And that: "This will impact over 90,000 students across the state, and for many, will mean the difference between going to college or not. Her comments come following a motion by Sinn Fein in the MOST READ IN THE IRISH SUN The motion, which coincided with a student and joint opposition protest outside Leinster House, called on the government to introduce a cost-of-living package which would cancel the scheduled €1,000 fee hike and reduces fees by a further €500. It also called for student fees to be permanently abolished within within two years. COLLEGE COSTS Speaking with He said: "Last year, our expectation was that the €1,000 reduction in the contribution was going to remain and it was going to be permanent, 'It feels like we're going backwards, to be honest." Despite these concerns, Minister Lawless remains resolute that third-level students will pay €1,000 extra in fees this year compared to last year. Speaking with He added: "All of us in any walk of life have to play the hands were dealt". 2 Students from around the country gathered outside Leinster House this week to protest rising student fees Credit: � 2025 PA Media, All Rights Reserved
RTÉ News
08-07-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Opposition call on Government to scrap fees hike for students
Opposition parties have urged Government to scrap a potential €1,000 student fees hike, saying rise is creating "barriers" to third level education and could force people not to go to college. TDs from across the political spectrum called for a u-turn on the Government plan, despite Minister for Further and Higher Education James Lawless criticising the "hypocrisy" and "points scoring" of rival parties. Speaking during a private members motion in the Dáil tonight, Sinn Féin TD Donna McGettigan told Minister Lawless to "have a look up there" at students in the Dáil gallery, before telling him "these are the people you've turned your back on". Her party's finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty said the Government plan is creating "barriers" for students and "scared the bejaysus" out of families when it was announced last week, arguing fees should be going down not up. A number of other Sinn Féin TDs also criticised the move, including Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire who said, "There are cabinet ministers who think the cost of living crisis is over". Their views were echoed by Labour TD and party spokesperson on Education and Youth Eoghan Kenny, who said "I wouldn't have been able to achieve third level education if it wasn't for the support of the State" - support he said is now being taken away. Pointing out the planned student fee increase, Deputy Kenny said when students hear about fee increases "you realise how little valued you are by this State". Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins described the situation as an "omnishambles" taking place "while families are grappling with the thought of whether they will be able to send their child to college in the autumn", while Independent TD Seamus Healy said he believes Government is "throwing students under the bus". However, responding to the criticism, Minister for Further and Higher Education James Lawless said he understood some of the points raised he rejected the "hypocrisy" and "points scoring" taking place. Minister Lawless said he believes "Fianna Fáil is the party of education in Ireland" and that he disagreed with the "cheap populism" from some opposition TDs. He said any changes are "a policy decision" and "not a move to re-allocate moneys", saying "some parties want to make noise, I want to make progress". Responding to the Minister's comments, Green party leader Roderic O'Gorman said the student fees controversy is a "messy episode" and that it is "okay to recognise that and right and proper to correct it." "Please Minister, do the right thing," he added.
Irish Independent
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Shane Ross: Simon Harris may live to regret hounding his Fianna Fáil colleagues over college fees and housing
Last Sunday morning, James Lawless was probably the least widely recognised face in the Cabinet. This Sunday, he must be wishing he was back in the ministerial twilight zone. The Further and Higher Education Minister — a cabinet backwater if ever there was one — walked into a haymaker when he decided to break out of obscurity and give an interview to RTÉ's This Week programme.
RTÉ News
02-07-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
No decision yet to revert student fees to €3,000
Tánaiste Simon Harris has told the Fine Gael parliamentary party that no decision has been made to return student contribution fees to €3,000 for a full college year. The Fine Gael leader said that any support for students will have to be part of the regular budget package. On Sunday, Minister for Further and Higher Education James Lawless said that "as things stand" third level students will have to pay an extra €1,000 in fees this year compared to last year, which would see the contribution return to a figure of €3,000. Mr Lawless said that last year's reduction was a part of a cost of living package that included other supports. Mr Harris this evening pointed to the Programme for Government saying that student contribution fees will be reduced over the Government's lifetime to ease the financial burden on students and families. He said that not having a separate cost of living package does not equate to not helping people with the cost of living. Mr Lawless this evening told a meeting of his parliamentary party tonight that most of the student initiatives in previous years were funded from one-off measures which meant he had to start now from a low funding base. He said he would be making the case across budget negotiations for the best possible outcome for students to make up these shortfalls, adding that he wanted to overhaul student supports and to address the cost of college for all. Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald told the Dáil earlier this afternoon that parents need to know what student fees they will have to pay in September. Ms McDonald said that the Government had no problem upping the pay of executives at bailed out banks and that of its own junior ministers, but it pleads the poor mouth when it comes to students. Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers said that any changes to fees would be made in a sustainable and permanent way. He confirmed that Mr Lawless will engage with stakeholders and bring forward options. The Government has to be cautious, Mr Chambers said, given the "uncertainty around us" and just like in previous years, final decisions will be taken in the next budget. He added that ministers are aware of the pressure that families are under and they want to make public services more affordable. Govt 'just doesn't get it' - Social Democrats Social Democrats' acting leader Cian O'Callaghan claimed the Government is in "complete disarray" over third level fees and that any change is part of the budgetary process is a "spin" that "nobody is buying". He said that Mr Chambers did not tell people during the general election campaign that a vote for Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael would be one to increase college fees. "Your Government promised to continue to reduce student fees and you're now threatening to break the promise and increase them by a whopping 50%," Mr O'Callaghan said. "It's hard to avoid the conclusion that the Government just doesn't get it. You don't get the immense pressure on students an families from soaring costs." Households' budgets rely on a promise to reduce student costs, Mr O'Callaghan added. Mr Chambers responded, saying that budgetary planning cannot be dismissed as it is an "important part of how Government operates and how politics should operate". He acknowledged the pressure that many families are under and decisions will then be made around affordability of public services, including further and higher education. Mr Chambers said the Government is moving away from once-off measures towards "continued and permanent" changes.
