Parliamentary questions

1345. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of employers currently registered as offering craft apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37359/26]

1346. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of additional staff employed or that will be employed by his Department directly or under contract for the purposes of Ireland’s presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2026. [37454/26]

1347. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will review the decision to end or substantially reduce ESOL provision for Ukrainians and other learners in County Donegal from March 2027, including classes delivered in community and resource centre settings; if he will provide the ESOL allocation to Donegal ETB in 2021,…

1348. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the arrangements that will apply for beneficiaries of temporary protection from Ukraine who are already enrolled in higher education, further education, PLC, Springboard, adult learning or upskilling courses in the 2026/2027 academic year; whether existing students will be suppo…

1349. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the timelines for when the PBC will be completed for the Swords College of the Future; when the due diligence for the preferred site option will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37872/26]

1350. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the basis on which the Erasmus+ funding allocation for a consortium (details supplied) was reduced by more than 70% compared with the mobility numbers applied for; the criteria used to determine reductions in allocations where demand is high; if he will review this decision in light of t…

1351. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason a consortium (details supplied) did not receive the annexe referenced in the Erasmus+ funding notification issued by Léargas; when this annexe will be provided; if he will address concerns regarding the difficulty in contacting Léargas for clarification; and if he will make a …

786. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of undergraduate places available in each university medical school for each of the years 2021 to 2025; the number of those places allocated to Irish, EU, and non-EU students respectively in each of those years; the fee charged to each category of student in each of those years…

787. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of undergraduate places available in each university dental school for each of the years 2021 to 2025; the number of those places allocated to Irish, EU and non-EU students, respectively, in each of those years; the fee charged to each category of student in each of those years…

788. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of undergraduate places available in each university pharmacy school for each of the years 2021 to 2025; the number of those places allocated to Irish, EU and non-EU students, respectively, in each of those years; the fee charged to each category of student in each of those yea…

789. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of undergraduate places available in each physiotherapy programme for each of the years 2021 to 2025; the number of those places allocated to Irish, EU, and non-EU students respectively in each of those years; the fee charged to each category of student in each of those years; …

790. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of undergraduate places available in the veterinary medicine programme for each of the years 2021 to 2025; the number of those places allocated to Irish, EU, and non-EU students respectively in each of those years; the fee charged to each category of student in each of those ye…

791. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has assessed the cumulative impact of non-EU student intake across undergraduate medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, physiotherapy, veterinary medicine programmes on the supply of these professionals in Ireland; if he has examined whether the allocation of places to higher-fee-paying non…

792. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department or any bodies and agencies under its aegis use, or have in the past used, software and or products from a company (details supplied); the duration and cost of the contract; and the services they avail of from the company. [35867/26]

793. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the position regarding the status of payments between his Department and an investment account (details supplied); if he supports providing the US-Ireland Alliance with the balance needed for this endowment so that it may resume selections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35…

794. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the position regarding a scholarship (details supplied) and the funding for it; if he is supportive of the aims and continuation of this fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35923/26]

795. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason students undertaking a university degree (details supplied) that is fully delivered online are not receiving the €500 reduction in the student contribution, while students who do the exact same programme on campus do receive the €500 reduction; and if he will make a stateme…

796. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide a copy of the recent correspondence issued by the Minister for Public Expenditure; National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to his Department referred to in media reports (details supplied); if he will provide details of the percentage reduction(s) in spending in his Departmen…

797. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will establish a national apprenticeship or traineeship programme for thatching, given the urgent need to preserve this endangered heritage craft; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36465/26]

266. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason a student who remained registered as a full-time student until the end of February 2026, following an official extension of their course by their institution, has been refused SUSI maintenance payments for January and February 2026 despite providing documentation from the colle…

267. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether universities have been asked to report on the prevalence of generative AI use among students and staff; the risks have been identified for academic integrity and research quality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35521/26]

268. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether he will consider exempting applicants for a Professional Master of Education from SUSI eligibility criteria that require applicants to be progressing to a higher level of qualification than they already hold, in light of the significant demand for teachers across Ireland; and if…

269. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the timeline for publication of the new national strategy on artificial intelligence skills and workforce development; and the measures being taken to ensure Ireland remains competitive in attracting high-value technology investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35621/2…

270. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps being taken to increase the number of training places in key professions experiencing workforce shortages, including healthcare, construction, engineering and advanced manufacturing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35622/26]

271. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress being made in expanding tertiary education pathways between further education and higher education institutions; and how these pathways will support regional access and lifelong learning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35623/26]