Questions

231. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the Turn to Teaching Programme in Maynooth will proceed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24555/25]

232. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department sources IT equipment from companies named on the official boycott, divestment and sanctions list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24583/25]

233. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of degree courses in artificial intelligence being offered in the State at each of bachelor and master levels; the total number of places on offer on these courses; his plans to increase the number of courses and places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24787/25]

1222. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if an Irish citizen, who completed their second-level education abroad, in a non-EU country, who plans to return and pursue their third-level education in Ireland, will be eligible for the free fees initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24342/25]

1223. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an overview of the primary and secondary legislation governing school matriculation and university entry in Ireland. [23165/25]

1224. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if additional supports will be provided for individuals undertaking construction related training and upskilling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23250/25]

1225. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to outline the financial supports available to a person (details supplied); the options open to them to assist them in their studies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23268/25]

1226. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the specific measures taken in his Departmental offices and operations in reducing energy usage and to assist in Ireland meeting our climate targets for 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23321/25]

1227. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will address the governance issues identified in the CINNTE review of South East Technological University, including the delay in sanctioning the three senior vice-president posts required to strengthen their governance structures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23404/25]

1228. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps he is taking to resolve the staffing challenges at South East Technological University, including its inability to appoint professors due to current constraints and the ongoing need to monitor and support staff workload and well-being; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23405/2…

1229. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the actions he is taking to support South East Technological University in integrating its academic programmes across campuses, as recommended in the CINNTE review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23406/25]

1230. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will act on the recommendations of the CINNTE review to improve student supports and retention at South East Technological University, including the establishment of a student retention task force and targeted supports for students from disadvantaged backgrounds; and if he will make a statement…

1231. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps he will take to ensure that South East Technological University can deliver on its potential as a driver of regional development in the south east, as highlighted in the CINNTE review, whether he intends to address structural constraints such as the absence of a borrowing framework for capi…

1232. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the ways his Department plans to monitor and support implementation of the CINNTE review recommendations at South East Technological University, given the review’s finding that while some progress has been made, significant challenges remain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23409/25]

1233. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount his Department have spent on encouraging Irish construction workers to return to Ireland; if he will outline any financial incentives for those workers to return; the amount of construction workers that have returned to Ireland in the each of the past five years and if his Department has done a …

1234. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether he is aware of a proposal to close the Saint Vincent's, Sunday's Well, music department and relocate; the timeline for same; and the future plans for the building. [23571/25]

1235. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of removing the mature dependent section of SUSI treating all over the age of 23 as independent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23574/25]

1236. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science how many students would become eligible for SUSI if the student earnings was removed, and how much this would cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23575/25]

1237. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of paying all apprentices a living wage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23576/25]

1238. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of reducing all international fees by 10%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23578/25]

1239. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of allowing SUSI to cover micro credentials; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23579/25]

1240. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of increasing the criteria of the special rate of SUSI for all those earning under €50,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23580/25]

1241. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when the new further education and training college announced on 12 December 2022 in Swords will proceed to a formal planning application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23583/25]

1242. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science what has happened in the last 26 months to advance the badly needed further education and training college planned for Swords and provide 1,000 campus places and 6,000 outreach or online places to service the Fingal area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23584/25]

1243. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the construction timeline for the new further education and training college planned for Swords; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23585/25]