Questions

127. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department is engaging with HSE management regarding the critical skills shortages in several key areas of the health system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49819/26]

128. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress being made in expanding apprenticeship opportunities to meet current and future skills needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50029/26]

129. Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the supports available for individuals who wish to undertake further remote study in their field, in view of the fact that many may wish to specialise/retrain while maintaining their post in the West of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49867/26]

130. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to address concerns raised by over 2,000 academics about the future of research in Ireland following an open letter to him recently. [49640/26]

131. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update on the €100 million expansion of the Tyndall National Institute at University College Cork, approved by Government on 13 January 2026 as first major project under the INSPIRE Research Infrastructure Programme, including the current status, timeline and drawdown to date; and…

132. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the supports available to students in relation to student accommodation; the additional measures he is considering putting in place to combat the rising cost of living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50300/26]

133. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the current status of plans to develop a third-level catering college in Killarney at a site (details supplied); the progress made to date on the transfer of the site to Kerry Education and Training Board and the associated due diligence and business case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50…

134. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether his Department is examining additional measures to improve progression to higher education for people with intellectual disabilities, including expanding PATH 4 places, strengthening partnerships between education and training boards and higher education institutions, and increasing work placement …

135. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to clarify the situation regarding the refurbishment of the swimming pool at a location (details supplied). [49823/26]

136. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether he will intervene urgently to prevent large scale redundancies and the closure of courses at Carlow College. [50262/26]

137. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps being taken by his Department to improve the further and higher education experience and supports available for students with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49772/26]

138. Deputy David Maxwell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to clarify the Government’s position on student fees, in light of recent media reports suggesting that fees may not be reduced as previously indicated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37219/26]

139. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to detail his Department’s 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 to build public construction capacity to ensure Ireland has the workers needed to directly deliver affordable housing…

140. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress that will be made in 2026 and 2027 in delivering upgrades and new accommodation for the Further Education Sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50257/26]

141. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of units of student accommodation that are owned by third level colleges and universities now in use; the number owned by each institution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49817/26]

142. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether consideration is being given to expanding the Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH 4) to ensure that every region has at least one higher education institution offering a dedicated programme for students with intellectual disabilities; the timeline for any such expansion; and if he will m…

143. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on student accommodation in Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48948/26]

144. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will report on the output of the recent national skills roundtable talks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50092/26]

145. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the work being carried out in his Department to further streamline cross-Border further and higher education anomalies, including the recognition of awards and the engagement by the CAO system with students from the North; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49775/26]

146. Deputy Micheál Carrigy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the extent to which job coaching supports are currently available within the 11 universities delivering programmes for persons with intellectual disabilities and autism; whether such supports include dedicated job coaches to assist participants in securing employment; if not, whether there are plans to re…

147. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the timeline on the proposed stakeholder consultation and subsequent publication of the review of specialist training provision, STP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50198/26]

148. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on improving access to graduate entry medicine programmes. [49861/26]

149. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on the roll out of aiready.ie; and his plans for future development. [49862/26]

150. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether he has met representatives of UCC or Munster Technological University about the possibility of a campus on the north side of Cork city. [49385/26]

151. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on the progress of the South East Technological University, SETU, Wexford campus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50299/26]