Parliamentary questions

52. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the additional measures he is planning to introduce to make apprenticeship programmes more attractive given the urgent need to increase the number of people qualified in the trades to address capacity issues; the plans to remove financial barriers to increase take-up of apprentices…

53. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on plans to provide additional student accommodation for the students of Galway; when the new national student accommodation strategy will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14545/25]

54. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the action that will be taken to address high dropout rates from apprenticeships, such as increasing pay, abolishing fees and ensuring access to off the job training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14352/25]

55. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on the work within his Department to prepare a new five-year apprenticeship action plan 2026-2030. [14613/25]

56. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason the Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board was requested to reduce its floor space from 25,000 metres squared to 10,000 metres squared in its revised business case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14546/25]

57. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress on achieving the target of 10,000 annual apprenticeship registrations by the end of 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13983/25]

58. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will commit to ensuring that technological universities are able to borrow funds in order to facilitate the building and purchasing of student accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14566/25]

59. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science what role has the use of artificial intelligence in our education system and how it is delivered at third level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14615/25]

60. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the Higher Education Authority has reached agreement with third level institutions to increase the number of training places for dental students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14520/25]

61. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will take action to ensure that no apprentice is paid less than the national minimum wage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14351/25]

62. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the projects for Further Education Colleges that will be progressed in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14302/25]

63. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will commit to establishing a minimum PhD stipend of €28,000 for all PhD students, as recommended by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14567/25]

64. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the new strategy for the further education and training sector includes a review of infrastructure capacity so as to cater for the continued growth in demand for further education and training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13980/25]

65. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the importance of the hospitality sector to Killarney, County Kerry and to Ireland will be acknowledged by supporting and expediting the proposed training college for the hospitality industry at a location (details supplied). [6847/25]

66. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to report on the work of his Department in encouraging SMEs to avail of further education and training for their staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13981/25]

67. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on the demands by an organisation (details supplied) for protections for staff on precarious contracts in the tertiary education sector. [14650/25]

68. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the percentage of students from County Offaly that progress to third-level education; how this compares to the national average; the measures being taken to improve access to higher education for students in the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14549/25]

69. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures being taken to address the delays with apprentices, including pipefitter apprentices, completing their studies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14104/25]

70. Deputy Gillian Toole asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the timeline for the single phase delivery of Dunboyne College of Further Education and Training, County Meath, serving six counties, based on the February 2022 commitment of the then-Minister. [14512/25]

71. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the detail the plans to provide affordable student accommodation across the country to address the accommodation crisis. [14647/25]

72. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science what measures are being taken to ensure sufficient capacity for in-class training for apprenticeships at all levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14614/25]

411. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures he will take to address the funding crisis in higher education institutions to reduce the reliance on student contributions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14927/25]

412. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the means by which he will support research and innovation in Irish universities to ensure Ireland remains competitive on the global stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14928/25]

413. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science her plans to address the high cost of student accommodation and improve access to affordable housing for third-level students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14929/25]

414. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on the agreed collaboration between UCD and Boston Northeastern University regarding the new double master’s degree in sustainability engineering leadership; and if will outline the importance of this type of collaboration for the future of innovation in Ireland. [13705/25]