Parliamentary questions

242. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update on the next phase of the development of the College of the Future project at a location (details supplied) which was given the green light in October 2024, in particular a timeline; the expected impact of this pioneering co-located campus for both further an…

243. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures being taken to address the ongoing apprenticeship in-class training delays; the number of dropout rates in apprenticeship programmes at phases 2, 4 and 6 for the years 2024, 2025 and 2026 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22105/26]

244. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps being taken to address skills shortages identified in the National Skills Strategy, particularly in the areas of green technologies and digital transformation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22108/26]

245. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps he is taking to increase the accessibility of apprenticeships to the Traveller community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22087/26]

246. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has sought, or will seek, clarification from Research Ireland regarding the rationale behind the decision to discontinue the Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Programme and move to a block-grant funding model administered through higher education institutions; and t…

247. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the position regarding the imminent loss of employment facing a number of adult educators in east Galway, despite ongoing learner demand and available funded work in GRETB centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22093/26]

248. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount being spent on STEM for the coming academic year in all third level institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22014/26]

249. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to outline any plans to increase student grants and stipends to meet increasing accommodation costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29076/26]

250. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on progress of the SETU Wexford campus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22121/26]

251. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress made to resolve employment issues of personal assistants who work in some education and training boards and further and higher education centres; the timeline for when the issue is expected to be resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22072/26]

252. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his proposals to ensure adequate provision of accommodation for students. [29146/26]

253. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the plans he has to reduce costs for students in light of the affordability crisis they are facing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20376/26]

254. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the position regarding the provision of additional student accommodation and costing strategy to ensure that it is affordable for families, particularly those who do not qualify for higher education grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22092/26]

255. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to restore funding for the postgraduate and graduate scholarship scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29176/26]

256. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department has carried out any analysis of university courses in which maximum Leaving Certificate points did not guarantee admission due to demand; if he will list the courses where this applied alongside the number of places available through the CAO for these courses and the numb…

257. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the timeline for the establishment of the National Skills Observatory committed to in the National Digital and AI Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22069/26]

258. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on the work of his Department in establishing new apprenticeships. [29115/26]

259. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the position regarding the pay negotiations of community training centre staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19513/26]

260. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the projected number of additional training places planned between 2026 and 2027 and 2027 and 2028 for speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and physiotherapy programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21731/26]

261. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when the new student accommodation strategy will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22097/26]

262. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department collects or monitors data on the rate of youth emigration; the number of post-graduates who remain in the country after achieving their degree; and the number who leave, from each faculty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22114/26]

263. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will remove the barriers that prevent technological universities such a university (details supplied) from building student accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21845/26]

264. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to confirm that there will be no job losses or loss of courses/classes in education training boards due to changes in the tendering process; how the anomalies and inconsistencies uncovered by the EPS were allowed to happen; his views on whether the level of governance is appropriate; …

265. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on his Department’s work in implementing the national student accommodation strategy. [29114/26]

266. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an outline of the key measures in the Careers in Construction Action Plan that will promote housing construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22094/26]