Parliamentary questions

113. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on the Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board’s proposal for an FET college in Galway City; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6858/26]

114. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is concerned about the impact of AI tools on third level exam integrity; the measures being taken to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5368/26]

115. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the support made available to an institute (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6963/26]

116. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps taken to help support students and families in Carlow and Kilkenny by reforming the SUSI grant, as committed to in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6994/26]

117. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of purpose-built student accommodation bed spaces available for students with disabilities in Cork; the number of students that requested spaces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6398/26]

118. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the current position regarding the proposed major building project for a college (details supplied); the timeline for this project to proceed to the next stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6899/26]

119. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the mechanisms his Department have in place to identify skills gaps in job growth sectors, and the way in which it responds to them through further and higher education opportunities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6965/26]

120. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the current status of initiatives within his Department to support training, education, and research in modern methods of construction, including off-site and modular building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6758/26]

121. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures being taken to improve student accommodation affordability and access in Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6873/26]

122. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on the merits of creating a student finance model that would provide interest free loans to students that do not qualify for SUSI grants, to support the associated costs of attending third level education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5997/26]

123. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures he is taking to address staffing shortages, escalating workloads, and declining staff-to-student ratios across higher education institutions; whether additional core funding will be allocated in 2026 to support recruitment and reduce reliance on precarious contracts; and if h…

124. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the actions he is taking to address the escalating shortage of affordable student accommodation, particularly in regional university towns, where students are reporting that rents for purpose-built student accommodation have risen significantly above inflation; the new measures which will…

125. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of English language schools which were inspected in 2025 by officials from his Department to ensure full compliance with their licences, pay and conditions for teachers and students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6894/26]

126. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will follow the recommendation of the Review of State Supports for PhD Researchers and establish a new review group to look at the employment status of post-graduate workers and different models for doctoral training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6918/26]

127. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to outline his Department’s efforts to increase and accelerate provision of student accommodation in Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5473/26]

128. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on plans to deliver new, permanent accommodation for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5367/26]

129. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the current regional distribution of capital investment in higher education infrastructure, in view of growing concerns that universities and technological universities in the west and north-west are falling behind due to underfunding; the steps he is taking to ensure balanced regional de…

130. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to outline the broad services provided in Millstreet FET Centre; the number of attendees in each of the years 2023-2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6775/26]

131. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of extra college places being created in September 2026 and September 2027 to ensure adequate supply of new speech and language therapists and occupational therapists, to meet the increasing demands of the care system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6995…

132. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to increase student accommodation delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6936/26]

133. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps he is taking to make apprenticeships more accessible across the country. [7011/26]

134. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the plans his Department has to increase the mental health supports provided in further and higher education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6844/26]

135. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way in which his Department is promoting social inclusion contracts through capital work management programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6847/26]

136. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is following developments to bring diverse further education and training streams together under a single brand such as the Dublin college initiative being led by DDLETB; whether he is encouraging other education and training boards to take a similar approach in order to strengthe…

137. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if fees will be abolished over the lifetime of the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6723/26]