Parliamentary questions

1320. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the recognised guilds, associations or oversight bodies responsible for standards and training in traditional crafts such as thatching, hedgelaying and hazel coppicing; the steps his Department is taking to address the barriers faced by trainees in accessing insurance, comprehensive trai…

1321. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will address the barriers faced by trainees in heritage crafts such as thatching in accessing insurance, comprehensive training, and structured apprenticeships; if he will review the adequacy of existing short duration training courses which practitioners state are insufficient to …

1322. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science with regard to English language schools, the enforcement powers the ILEP has with regard to ongoing cases where refunds have not been paid to students whose visa applications have been refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36749/26]

1323. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science with regard to English language schools, the number of breaches that have been identified with regard to ongoing cases where refunds have not been paid to students whose visa applications have been refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36750/26]

1324. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on whether it is right for SUSI to refuse a grant to a student who is a member of the Reserve Defence Forces but is not employed by the RDF (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36881/26]

1325. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the capital funding that has been allocated to support the development of pharmacy laboratory and clinical simulation facilities at South East Technological University following the establishment of its new department of pharmacy; whether similar investment is being considered to s…

1326. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures in place to ensure that pharmacy graduates from newly established programmes, including that at South East Technological University, can access sufficient supervised practice placements in hospital and community pharmacy settings across the south and south-east of Irel…

1327. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide details on the number of pharmacy students currently enrolled across all Higher Education Institutions offering accredited pharmacy programmes in Ireland, broken down by institution; the projected number of pharmacy graduates expected to enter the workforce annua…

1328. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the research funding streams available to support the pharmacy research ambitions set out in the inaugural strategic plan of the department of pharmacy at South East Technological University, including its stated goal of driving impactful research for regional, national and global …

1329. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when the Adult Literacy for Life (ALL) Oversight Group last met; when the National Literacy Coalition last met; the reasons for the apparent pause in meetings since summer 2024; and his timeline and plans for the restructuring of governance arrangements referenced in the Budget 2026 Ex…

1330. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether any interim governance or decision-making structures are currently in place for the ALL Strategy in the absence of regular meetings of the Oversight Group and National Literacy Coalition; and how stakeholder engagement is being maintained during this period. [36960/26]

1331. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the current status of the independent mid-term review of the Adult Literacy for Life Strategy; when it is expected to commence and conclude; and whether the review will be published. [36961/26]

1332. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the consultation process that is planned as part of the mid-term review of the ALL Strategy; whether key stakeholders, including the National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA), adult learners, and education and training providers, will be involved; and how the Oireachtas Committee will be e…

1333. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress that has been made against the key targets of the Adult Literacy for Life Strategy since its launch in 2021; and whether updated performance indicators will be published alongside the mid-term review. [36963/26]

1334. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way in which his Department is ensuring cross Government accountability for delivery of the ALL Strategy, given its whole of government approach; and which Minister has overall responsibility for its implementation. [36964/26]

1335. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will review the case of a person (details supplied); if he will provide an update on the SUSI grant application in question; if the records held by the HEA can be amended to accurately reflect the applicant's attendance history; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37097/…

1336. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department has any usage policy on or if it sanctions for official purposes the use of messaging apps (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37203/26]

1337. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total number of craft apprenticeship registrations in each of the years 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37351/26]

1338. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total number of individuals undertaking craft apprenticeships currently in years one and two of their training, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37352/26]

1339. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for a nationwide breakdown of all craft apprenticeships in the construction sector, with details on the number of students who are in year one and year two, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37353/26]

1340. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the average wage paid to an apprentice for each of the years of their training, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37354/26]

1341. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the average hours a craft apprentice works per day and the average days a craft apprentice works per week when they are not in training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37355/26]

1342. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total number of weeks a craft apprentice spends in training where they are paid the training allowance; the amount the training allowance per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37356/26]

1343. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total number of employers who are currently paying the national minimum wage to apprentices, in particular craft apprentices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37357/26]

1344. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way in which the process for registering as an apprentice works; when the application process opens; when do apprenticeships usually start; the length of time each phase lasts; the average total length of an apprenticeship before qualification; and if he will make a statement on …