Questions

204. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the inter-departmental implementation group for the National Student Accommodation Strategy has met to date; to provide a schedule of dates for meetings that have taken place; to provide a schedule of the groups future meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69051/26]

895. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the position regarding the planned graduate entry medicine loan scheme or other schemes of financial support for such students. [68228/26]

896. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the financial measures to support students who wish to pursue postgraduate studies; and the number of such students who received these supports in 2025-2026. [68226/26]

897. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the protections in place for students undertaking higher or further education programmes delivered by private or overseas education and training providers where a provider ceases trading or enters liquidation; whether students are protected against losing substantial fees or being left without a route to…

898. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the protections or avenues of redress available to students in Ireland who have paid substantial fees towards play therapy qualifications delivered through the academy of play and child psychotherapy, which has entered voluntary liquidation; whether his Department can assist affected students in identify…

899. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether his Department is aware that students who were due to commence play therapy training in Cork in September 2026 following the liquidation of an organisation (details supplied); the discussions he has had with University College Cork and other relevant bodies regarding a pathway for these students …

900. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the discussions his Department have had with organisations (details supplied) and other relevant higher education and professional bodies regarding arrangements to allow students to complete their qualifications, including clinical placements, supervision and assessments; and whether he is satisfied that…

901. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the engagement his Department has had with organisations (details supplied) and other relevant bodies following the voluntary liquidation in August 2026, which has left more than 100 students in Ireland facing uncertainty regarding their qualifications, clinical placements and fees paid; and the guidance…

902. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the extent to which the estimated annual funding gap of €307 million identified in 'Funding the Future' May 2022 has been addressed; the reason for the full funding requirement has not yet been met; the total estimated annual funding shortall facing the higher education sector, taking into account the outstan…

903. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the growth in student enrolments across the higher education sector in each year since 2022; the number of additional student places funded by the State in each year since 2022; the total Exchequer funding allocated in respect of demographic growth in each year since 2022, in tabular form; and the proportion …

904. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether his Department, the Higher Education Authority, or agencies under his remit have undertaken an assessment of whether the allocation of places to non-EU students in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, physiotherapy or veterinary medicine has reduced the number of places available to Irish students; if such…

905. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of Irish/EU and non-EU students enrolled in graduate entry veterinary medicine at University College Dublin in each academic year since 2017/2018; the annual tuition fee charged to each category; whether additional publicly funded EU places have been considered; and if he will make a statement on …

906. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether he is satisfied that the current balance between EU and non-EU undergraduate medical students at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland aligns with national workforce planning objectives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68445/26]

907. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether the 612 additional healthcare education places announced in August 2026 are restricted to Irish and EU students; if not, the number that may be allocated to non-EU students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68444/26]

908. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 788 of 14 May 2026 relating to pharmacy student numbers, to provide an update on the tabular data referred to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68441/26]

909. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 787 of 14 May 2026, to provide an update on the dentistry enrolment table referenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68440/26]

910. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the annual tuition fees charged to non-EU students in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, physiotherapy and veterinary medicine programmes in each higher education institution for each of the years from 2021-2022 to 2026-2027; whether this information has been sought from the institutions; and if he will make a s…

911. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the approved intake capacity and number of available first-year places, as distinct from actual enrolments, for medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, physiotherapy and veterinary medicine programmes in each higher education institution in each academic year from 2021-2022 to 2026-2027; and if he will make a stateme…

912. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of Irish citizens, excluding other EU, UK and Northern Ireland students, enrolled in first year medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, physiotherapy and veterinary medicine programmes in each higher education institution in each academic year from 2021-2022 to 2025-2026; and if he will make a statement on…

913. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount of money that has been spent since 2020 by his Department or by HEI's on procurement or consultancy on student accommodation that has not proceeded; and the reason the projects have not proceeded. [68482/26]

914. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider establishing or facilitating a coordinated engagement between the affected students, the University of Chichester, University College Cork, the relevant professional bodies and the liquidators of the Academy of Play and Child Psychotherapy, with a view to identifying a practical pathw…

915. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the extent to which the Government's strategy for the funding of higher education is predicated on continued growth in international student fee income; whether the Department has assessed the vulnerability of higher education institutions to a downturn in international student demand; and the findings of any…

916. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide details in tabular form of total international non-EU students enrolled in Irish higher education institutions each year since 2021/22 and the related international fee income. [68550/26]

917. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reasons the level of additional funding provided to address the Funding the Future funding gap has reduced in recent budgets; the reasons the multiannual funding commitments announced in Budget 2025 in respect of closing that funding gap were not fully reflected in Budget 2026; whether he remains committe…

918. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to review correspondence (details supplied) regarding students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68547/26]