Questions

101. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to confirm that the necessary finance will be provided to Cork Dental Hospital to enable it to open a community-based outreach dental centre in Cork city, in accordance with the proposals already submitted to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6895/26]

102. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the new veterinary colleges will have a particular focus on farm animals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6991/26]

103. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department has carried out any recent assessment of the way rising living costs, including food, transport and accommodation, are impacting student access, retention and completion rates across the higher education sector; if he will publish the findings; and if he will make a statement on the matter.…

104. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to confirm the work he and his Department have undertaken to ensure greater cooperation, engagement and links between universities and third level institutions in the Republic of Ireland and in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6896/26]

105. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps he is taking to ensure that students will be insulated from disproportionate rent increases under the new tenancy legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5969/26]

106. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on the new student accommodation strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5472/26]

107. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on measures being taken to support the continued development of a college (details supplied), including capital investment, student capacity and facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7000/26]

108. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to incentivise employers to take on greater numbers of apprentices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7007/26]

109. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on supports to be provided to graduate medicine students who receive no SUSI grant, no Government support, and no access to student loans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6395/26]

110. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps his Department is taking to ensure that students seeking accommodation in Irish cities do not fall victim to online scams relating to housing and tenancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5983/26]

111. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department has plans to reduce the student contribution fee for the academic year 2026/27, in line with Programme for Government commitments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6846/26]

112. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to outline the plans to increase numbers of apprenticeships in key industries that are experiencing labour shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6917/26]

113. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on the Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board’s proposal for an FET college in Galway City; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6858/26]

114. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is concerned about the impact of AI tools on third level exam integrity; the measures being taken to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5368/26]

115. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the support made available to an institute (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6963/26]

116. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps taken to help support students and families in Carlow and Kilkenny by reforming the SUSI grant, as committed to in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6994/26]

117. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan 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 in Cork; the number of students that requested spaces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6398/26]

118. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the current position regarding the proposed major building project for a college (details supplied); the timeline for this project to proceed to the next stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6899/26]

119. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the mechanisms his Department have in place to identify skills gaps in job growth sectors, and the way in which it responds to them through further and higher education opportunities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6965/26]

120. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the current status of initiatives within his Department to support training, education, and research in modern methods of construction, including off-site and modular building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6758/26]

121. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures being taken to improve student accommodation affordability and access in Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6873/26]

122. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on the merits of creating a student finance model that would provide interest free loans to students that do not qualify for SUSI grants, to support the associated costs of attending third level education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5997/26]

123. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures he is taking to address staffing shortages, escalating workloads, and declining staff-to-student ratios across higher education institutions; whether additional core funding will be allocated in 2026 to support recruitment and reduce reliance on precarious contracts; and if he will make a statem…

124. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the actions he is taking to address the escalating shortage of affordable student accommodation, particularly in regional university towns, where students are reporting that rents for purpose-built student accommodation have risen significantly above inflation; the new measures which will be introduced in 20…

125. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of English language schools which were inspected in 2025 by officials from his Department to ensure full compliance with their licences, pay and conditions for teachers and students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6894/26]