Questions

1026. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures he is taking to address the funding shortfall of Solas that has resulted in adult education teachers being told they have no jobs to return to in September; to outline his plans to protect those teaching positions and the course availability for students; and if he will make a statement on the ma…

1027. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on the roll out of the Global Talent Initiative; if it will involve the provision of additional funding to higher education institutions to attract new staff; if the disciplines that academic staff will be targeted in have identified yet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [392…

1028. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware that the biomedical science degree programmes at University College Dublin are currently not accredited by CORU, the national regulator for health and social care professionals; the steps being taken to ensure that current students are not disadvantaged by this lack of accreditation; if he wil…

1029. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider establishing an office of national student ombudsman to deal with complaints about and investigations into student safety at universities, including gender-based violence, and procedures to address misconduct and academic staffing levels, similar to that which exists in Australia;…

1030. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to urgently examine the case for allowing the second year of a master programme to proceed (details supplied); so that students may complete their studies and the funded year under the HCI Pillar 3 is not a complete waste of funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39443/25]

1031. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures he plans to introduce to support those wishing to pursue graduate entry medicine, a path that remains highly inaccessible for very many people, in light of widespread and well-documented shortages of GPs; whether he will consider a return of service bursary, similar to the Scottish mo…

1032. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if information will be provided on the Standardisation of Youthreach Calendar Year Sectoral Survey of ETBs (details supplied), which was sent to all of the 16 ETBs, on 27 June 2025; the reason many staff employed in the Youthreach coordinator and resource grade who are the intended target group did not …

1033. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of increasing apprentice wage to the minimum wage. [39507/25]

1034. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason there are significant discrepancies in how different ETBs are handling the allocation of hours and contracts for adult educators; his plans to ensure fair and consistent treatment of adult educators across all ETBs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39511/25]

1035. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the current status of the introduction of the Test Event Notification and Results Capture System (TENRCS) for apprenticeship programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39528/25]

1036. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the funding committed by SOLAS towards Test Event Notification and Results Capture System electronic marking system for adult and apprenticeships programs, the breakdown of the spend; the amount allocated to the company procured to design, test and install the program; the estimated overall cost in addition…

1037. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on the Programme for Government commitment to examine the provision of the personal assistants initiative for persons with a disability in third level institutions to ensure consistency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39530/25]

1038. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update as of July 2025 on the Programme for Government commitment to develop and promote projects which build links and understanding with other EU capitals and regions in the fields of culture, education, research and innovation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39531/25]

1039. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update as of July 2025 on the Programme for Government commitment to continue to provide and broaden funding for research bodies or institutions which have an independent cross-border studies agenda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39532/25]

1040. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update as of July 2025 on the Programme for Government commitment to create research fellowships to strengthen Ireland’s appeal to top-tier academic and research talent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39533/25]

1041. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update as of July 2025 on the Programme for Government commitment to ensure that distinct funding programmes for research in the humanities and social sciences are maintained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39534/25]

1042. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update as of July 2025 on the Programme for Government commitment to implement the Autism Innovation Strategy and ensure the development of a successor strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39537/25]

1043. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to list all national strategies, action plans or documents that may be described as such, which are currently in operation and under the remit of his Department. [39609/25]

1044. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if there are plans for capital investment into further and higher education facilities within Donegal within the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39666/25]

1045. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to revise the SUSI grant qualifying criteria to allow students, who are under 23 years-of-age and are financially independent from their parents and guardians to be eligible to receive the SUSI grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39674/25]

1046. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the percentage of the capital and current funding of his Department that has been spent in the first six months of 2025; and if he will provide the same figures for the corresponding period in 2024, in tabular form. [38674/25]

1047. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he will detail the total number of CCTV cameras owned by his Department; the specific video file format used in the recording and dissemination of the recorded footage; the total number of CCTV cameras owned by bodies under the aegis of his Department; the specific video file format used in the recording and disse…

1048. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the main policy achievements of his Department since 23 January 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38761/25]

1049. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he will support an application under the CLAR 2025 scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38893/25]

1050. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht for an update as of July 2025 on the Programme for Government commitment to publish and implement Our Rural Future 2025 – 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38895/25]