Parliamentary questions

2490. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to make apprenticeships more ambitious and equivalent in status to degree programmes, including expanding the range of apprenticeships in line with best practice in countries such as Germany; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42633/26]

2491. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the targeted practical upskilling measures in place or planned through the National Training Fund for older workers facing disruption from climate policy, the green transition, technological change and market shifts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42634/26]

2492. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will comment on the proposed takeover of a college (details supplied); the costs for the State on this takeover; the financial benefits to the State; if staff from the college will be employed by SETU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42755/26]

2493. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he can comment on the proposed takeover of ,or if he is aware that the humanities course offered by a college (details supplied); the plans he has made to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42756/26]

2494. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the timeline of the negotiations that took place between SETU prior to the decision of 19 May 2026 to wind down operations of a college (details supplied) over the next two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42757/26]

2495. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he expects the tuition support scheme for graduate entry medicine committed to in the Programme for Government will be established by the 2027/2028 academic year; whether supports will be backdated so that students who have already began their course are not disadvantaged; and if he w…

2496. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to confirm the current requirements for an adult education tutor to be awarded a contract of indefinite duration (CID); whether there are any Department circulars which outline these requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43092/26]

2497. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the current status of the theoretical examinations for the electrical apprenticeship programme following the recent review by Quality and Qualifications Ireland into the security and implementation of assessment procedures for the craft electrical apprenticeship; whether any changes ar…

2498. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to reconsider the funding priorities stated in the current Research Ireland Strategy given concerns that have been raised (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43430/26]

2499. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware of the concerns outlined in a letter (details supplied); if he will commit to engaging with the signatories of this open letter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43497/26]

2500. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to expedite the commercial diving centre which is to be established in Cahersiveen, County Kerry; to provide an up-to-date progress report on progression to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43523/26]

2501. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether their Department, the Higher Education Authority, or any body under their aegis has undertaken an assessment of the number of Irish-qualified graduates working abroad in healthcare and other critical skills sectors; whether estimates are available by profession, qualification type…

2502. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether their Department has considered, proposed or participated in the development of any national strategy, programme, incentive scheme or interdepartmental initiative aimed at encouraging Irish-qualified graduates working overseas, including healthcare professionals, to return to Irel…

2503. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the funding supports available to Irish postgraduate students undertaking a postgraduate course in another EU country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43678/26]

2504. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the academic backlash to recently published priorities by an organisation (details supplied) that neglect social sciences and humanities subjects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43896/26]

751. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether any proposed National AI Workforce Transition Programme or related AI retraining initiative would apply equally to Irish citizens, EU citizens, and non-EU employment permit holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40994/26]

752. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will examine the establishment of a National AI Workplace Transition Programme to proactively support workers whose roles may be significantly altered or displaced by artificial intelligence and automation technologies over the coming years, through measures including retraining…

753. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware that the number of students taking courses taught through the medium of Irish stands at less than 1%; to provide an update on the work his Department is doing to reach the 20% public service recruitment target under the National Plan for Irish Language Public Services; …

754. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether his Department is engaged with Project Home or similar initiatives to encourage Irish graduates in healthcare and other critical sectors to return to Ireland; if so, the nature of that engagement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41301/26]

755. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department has considered making a policy regarding sick pay arrangements for apprentices who suffer significant illness during the duration of the apprenticeship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41325/26]

756. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide a report on the progress made implementing the Programme for Government commitments within his remit and on the achievements since the formation of the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41387/26]

294. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware of the reasons behind the layoffs in an education centre (details supplied). [40319/26]

295. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a schedule of contracts will be provided that his Department and bodies under his aegis have had with an organisation (details supplied) and/or its subsidiaries; the value of each; the type and-or name of each project; if any project has been abandoned, paused, put on hold and comple…

296. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps being taken by his Department to broaden access to graduate entry medicine programmes across the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40470/26]

297. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the financial supports available to prospective students of graduate entry medicine programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40471/26]