Questions

2603. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the position regarding access to SUSI grant support for students enrolled on part-time higher education programmes which carry a full academic workload of 60 ECTS credits per academic year; whether consideration has been given to amending eligibility criteria to take account of the actual academic intensi…

2604. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number and location of the student residential accommodation places that will be provided by the National Student Accommodation Strategy; and the Short-Term Activation Programme; and to provide a timeline for the same. [1195/26]

2605. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if consideration will be given to providing pay for occupational therapy students currently providing services in placement programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1365/26]

2606. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the quantity of third level purpose built student accommodation in each year from 2018 to date; by location ; by higher education institution and private organisation properties, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1501/26]

2607. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number and percentage of third level students in purpose built student accommodation in each year from 2018 to date; by location; by higher education institution and private organisation properties, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1502/26]

2608. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of purpose built student accommodation bed spaces available for students with disabilities, the number of students that requested such spaces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1522/26]

2609. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of apprenticeship registrations in the construction sector, by type in each of the years 2023, 2024 and 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1632/26]

2610. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of students in receipt of grant support under the SUSI scheme for each of the years 2023, 2024 and 2025, broken down by level of education under the National Framework of Qualifications and level of grant funding provided, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1688/26]

2611. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of students currently enrolled in PLCs in receipt of grant support under the SUSI scheme for each of the years 2023, 2024 and 2025, broken down by level of education under the National Framework of Qualifications and level of grant funding provided, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement …

2612. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the date on which a supplementary estimate or supplementary estimates was sought in respect of his Department’s Vote for each of the past ten years, and to the date in 2026; the gross and net amount involved in each case; and the Vote subheads to which each supplementary estimate related. [1796/26]

2613. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the value of expenditure originally allocated in the Estimates to specific programmes or staffing measures that could not be spent as planned within the year for each of the past five years; and whether such underspends were surrendered, carried forward, or reallocated to other areas within the Vote. [1817/…

2614. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department can address the serious issue of long-term (CID) contract holders at FET institutes (details supplied) who are not getting the requested additional hours they are entitled to, before new appointments are advertised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1866/26]

2615. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the position regarding any product or service purchased from Israel or the Occupied Territories by his Department in 2025, broken down by description and amount paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1982/26]

2616. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether his Department, or any body under its aegis, has funded, or is funding, other than where legal costs were awarded against the employer by a court or tribunal, the legal costs of any current or concluded litigation taken by an employee or former employee against that Department or body, in each of th…

2617. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the basis on which his Department, or a body under its aegis, may fund the legal costs of an employee or former employee in litigation where that employee is in dispute with, or taking proceedings against, the same body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2040/26]

2618. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether the funding of employee legal costs in disputes against his Department, or a body under its aegis, is standard practice; if not, the circumstances in which such funding may be permitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2058/26]

2619. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to outline the guidance, codes, circulars or directions that govern the payment of legal costs by his Department, and bodies under its aegis, in employment-related disputes, including any requirements under the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies or Departmental sanction arrangements; and if…

2620. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether the funding of employee legal costs in litigation against the employing body could give rise to governance, accountability, or value for money concerns; whether his Department has issued any guidance in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2094/26]

2621. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether his Department has reviewed, or intends to review, the practice of Departments, and bodies under their aegis, funding legal costs in employment disputes involving those same bodies; and if so, the outcome or timeline for such a review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2112/26]

2622. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether arrangements to fund legal costs in employment disputes involving his Department, or bodies under its aegis, require the prior approval of his Department or the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. …

2623. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on the QQI Trust Ed Accreditation process; the number of applications that were received, and the number that have been awarded accreditation to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2155/26]

2624. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department is using artificial intelligence tools for any graphic design or similar work in place of artists, designers or videographers; and if so, to outline which projects or units of the Department are affected. [2248/26]

2625. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether any agencies or other bodies under his remit are using artificial intelligence tools for any graphic design or similar work in place of artists, designers or videographers; and if so, to outline which projects or units of the organisation are affected. [2266/26]

2626. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide a list of the top ten capital or programme projects delivered by his Department or its agencies over the past three years which were completed on time and within the originally approved budget; the project name, location, delivery timeframe, original approved budget, final outturn cost, and de…

2627. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to detail the annual spend on external consultants by his Department and its agencies in each of the past three years; the number of consultancy contracts, the largest individual consultancy engagements by value, and whether internal capacity-building or cost-benefit assessments were undertaken prior to …