Questions

1. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress being made with regard to the current challenges in the apprenticeship system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14864/25]

2. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science following the reduction to higher education student fees, if he will provide assurance that student fees will not rise again in the future; if he is considering fully abolishing further and higher education student fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14941/25]

3. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to close the funding deficit in the university sector, first identified in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14865/25]

4. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the bachelor of veterinary medicine will be delivered in Atlantic Technological University, formerly Mountbellew Agricultural College, Galway, in September 2025, as announced by his predecessor; if not, when this course will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14918/25]

5. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans for the contributory fee; if he will maintain the cut in the fee, as has been set out in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14866/25]

6. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 11 of 8 October 2024, the status of the proposed new further education college in Galway city; if the revised business case, as requested, has been evaluated; to provide a breakdown of the €450 million national allocation over four years to four capital funding progr…

7. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will report on his recent visit to CERN; if he will provide an update on Ireland's CERN membership and CERN strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8127/25]

8. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his Department's plans to provide adequate protections for students renting in digs accommodation. [14649/25]

9. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps his Department is taking to address the challenges faced by young carers and young adult carers pursuing courses at third level. [14632/25]

10. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update in respect of the provision of student accommodation for Maynooth University; his plans for investment in this area; and if he has engaged with the HEA on this matter. [14259/25]

11. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Breisoideachais agus Ardoideachais, Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Eolaíochta cad é líon na ndaltaí atá ag déanamh staidéir trí mheán na Gaeilge ag an tríú leibhéal gach bliain ó 2020 ag aghaidh; cad atá beartaithe aige chun an líon sin a mhéadú agus chun an rogha lán-Ghaeilge a leathnú; agus an bhfuil ról an oideachais lán-Ghaeilge ag an tríú leibhéal pléite aige leis an…

12. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on the process of getting qualifications obtained in Britain recognised in Ireland since the cessation of the mutual recognition of professional qualifications in 2021. [14517/25]

13. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science given the programme for Government commitment to "continue to reduce the Student Contribution Fee over the lifetime of the Government to ease the financial burden on students and families at the start of each academic year, in a financially sustainable manner", to outline his Department's plans to reduce the …

14. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will intervene to ensure that adult education classes proceed this term through Cavan Monaghan ETB. [13717/25]

15. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department has plans to ensure that more student accommodation in university towns such as Maynooth is made available for students in desperate need of it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14624/25]

16. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on the need to further incentivise teaching through Irish; if additional grants or scholarships could be considered for any prospective teacher pursuing that career; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14511/25]

17. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department has engaged with Dundalk Institute of Technology regarding the progression of the institute to university status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14626/25]

18. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will ensure that any additional financial support for students at further and higher education level are also made available to students from this State studying outside our jurisdiction, such as in Northern Ireland and in Britain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14303/25]

19. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to outline his Department’s efforts to increase and accelerate provision of student accommodation in Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13979/25]

20. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress being made with the Colleges of the Future initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13985/25]

21. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department plans to provide purpose-built student accommodation to alleviate pressures on the private rental market around universities and third level institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14381/25]

22. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science following the recommendations in the National Review of State Supports for PhD Researchers, the plans to ensure that all PhD researchers, regardless of their funding source, receive at least €25,000 per annum stipend; his views on the issue of giving PhD researchers a worker status; and if he will mak…

23. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when the interdepartmental group on student accommodation last meet; the remit of the group; and the steps it has taken since it was established. [13467/25]

24. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to outline plans to progress college places to assist in the workforce planning of disability services. [13715/25]

25. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures his Department is implementing to clear the backlog of apprentices awaiting completion of their training. [12498/25]