Parliamentary questions

138. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if it is his intention to reduce fees for under- and postgraduates in Budget 2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6921/26]

139. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the actions he is taking to ensure that every third level campus and coursework requirements are fully accessible for any student or staff member with a disability to prevent any barrier to education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5996/26]

140. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on the Action Plan for Apprenticeships 2026–2030; when the plan will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6845/26]

141. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on the progress of the merger of Dundalk Institute of Technology and Queen’s University of Belfast. [6777/26]

142. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to independent students who have become estranged from their families after the age of 18 years, but are struggling to provide sufficient documentation to prove their independence in order that they can access SUSI; if he plans to revise the rules regard…

143. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to outline the initiatives his Department are implementing to improve gender balance across apprenticeship recruitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6867/26]

144. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps being taken to accelerate delivery of new FET infrastructure, given the growing demand for apprenticeships and upskilling opportunities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6866/26]

145. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if shared island funding could be used to advance the development of capital infrastructure at Dundalk Institute of Technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6778/26]

146. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether his Department is assessing the extension or adaptation of existing funding and approval mechanisms for student housing developments; whether consideration is being given to a streamlined or single-stage approval process for publicly supported student accommodation projects; and if…

147. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the date for the publication of the updated National Student Accommodation Strategy (2025-2035), which was due to be published in 2024; the reason for the delay in publication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7006/26]

148. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to outline his Department’s plans to increase the number of apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6909/26]

149. 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 num…

150. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in relation to access courses offered in various universities to mature students and school leavers from underrepresented backgrounds, the number of persons who have been enrolled in access courses in the State in each of the past ten years [5982/26]

151. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to increase delivery of student accommodation in Thurles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6937/26]

152. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update, to include a timeline for commencement and completion, on the Disability Demonstration Project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6874/26]

153. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the actions he is taking to expand access to further and higher education for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, including those with disabilities and caring responsibilities; whether he is satisfied that current supports are sufficient to meet rising demand; and if he will make a…

154. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to ensure adequate provision of accommodation for students. [6990/26]

155. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if an institute of further education or any other educational campus outside Dundalk in County Louth is being considered as satellites, or linked in any way with (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6396/26]

156. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether he is aware that there are only 15 apprentices in Cork at Phase 6. [6190/26]

157. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is satisfied that apprenticeship opportunities are available in emerging sectors such as green energy; the funding that has been allocated to support these apprenticeship pathways; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6399/26]

158. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department has plans to amend SUSI criteria in relation to family estrangement to ensure greater access to SUSI grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6843/26]

159. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether he has met with UCC to discuss the business school plans for a site (details supplied) in Cork. [6191/26]

160. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will outline the end user cost of third level fees in each of the years 2024, 2025 and 2026; and his proposals to abolish fees. [6989/26]

161. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on the development of a new Galway college of further education by Galway Roscommon Education and Training Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6869/26]

162. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update on the engagement there has been between his Department, Dundalk IT and Queen’s University Belfast about their partnership to create Dundalk University College; when the necessary legislation will be drafted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. […