Questions

202. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department will examine the way to make the large number of unused childcare facilities built as part of housing developments viable; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29188/26]

203. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the progression towards €200 per month childcare. [29153/26]

204. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide an update on progress in implementing the key commitments set out in the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030, including the actions currently underway and the planned next steps for 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29065/26]

205. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the waiting list in each area for residential care places for adults with disabilities; the average waiting times; and the plan in place to significantly increase availability. [17511/26]

206. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide the number of Tusla staff who resigned, retired, or otherwise left employment, broken down by grade, for each year from 2020 to 2025 inclusive, in tabular form; the reasons recorded for their departure; and whether she has assessed the impact of staff churn on child protection and care outcomes; and if she will make a statem…

207. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures she will take to address the issue of staff turnover in childcare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29191/26]

208. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the supports she plans to introduce to support those who want to open new childcare services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29113/26]

209. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on CDNT waiting lists for assessments and therapies in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28156/26]

210. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide greater legal protections to students living in digs accommodation as more and more students find themselves in this situation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22252/26]

211. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of purpose-built student accommodation beds that will be available in the State for the coming academic year; the amount that this has grown on the previous academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22017/26]

212. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to confirm that there will be no job losses or loss of courses/classes in education training boards due to changes in the tendering process; the way in which the anomalies and inconsistencies uncovered by the EPS were allowed to happen; and his views on whether the level of governance is appropriate.; an…

213. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department collects or monitors data on the rate of youth emigration; the number of post-graduates who remain in the country after achieving their degree; and the numbers who leave, from each faculty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22144/26]

214. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the position regarding his work to make higher education and higher education institutions more accessible for those coming from communities with higher levels of disadvantage. [22300/26]

215. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on the way his student accommodation plan will address the question of affordability in the short and medium term to relieve overburdened families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29029/26]

216. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way in which his Department plans to address construction labour force shortfalls and the impact that will have on housing delivery; if he will consider a State construction company to increase investment in training and apprenticeships, attract skilled labour home from abroad and an expand of the use of …

217. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on funding cuts to the Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29090/26]

218. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the current and projected demand for student accommodation in the Dublin region, as identified by his Department and higher education institutions; the actions being taken by his Department to support the provision of student accommodation, including engagement with relevant Departments and agencies; the s…

219. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the current status of the draft legislation to amend the Technological Universities Act 2018 to facilitate a partnership between Dundalk Institute of Technology and Queen’s University Belfast; the timeline for when a draft Bill will be presented; if IADT is the only other remaining institute of techn…

220. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the position regarding the engagement there has been with his Department, Dundalk IT and Queen’s University Belfast in relation to their partnership to create Dundalk university college; the work being carried out by his Department to resolve cross-Border further and higher education issues and the anomal…

221. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if supports or grants are available for Irish students undertaking specialist artistic third level training abroad that is not available in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21628/26]

222. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps his Department is taking to support and encourage the provision of adult and community education programmes through the medium of Irish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22067/26]

223. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science an bhfuil sé i gceist aige aon mhaoiniú ar leith a chur ar fáil chun tacú le hinstitiúidí tríú leibhéal cúrsaí a sholáthar trí mheán na Gaeilge; ar phléigh sé riamh an gá atá le breis cúrsaí trí Ghaeilge chun an sprioc 20% earcaíochta faoi Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú), 2021 a bhaint amach…

224. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to outline what the fund for students with disabilities covers; the amount that is allocated to each category across all FETs; the amount that is allocated to transport across all FETs, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21799/26]

225. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether he has engaged with the Minister for Finance regarding the cost of college fees; the consideration being given, in the context of Budget 2027, to further reducing the student contribution in light of ongoing cost-of-living pressures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25220/26]

226. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the implications of a recent decision (details supplied); if the cost of construction is the barrier to the delivery of affordable student accommodation; the steps the Government is taking to support construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22109/26]