Questions

163. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on the implementation of the sustainable funding model for higher education, and when institutions can expect the full funding framework to be in place in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6883/26]

164. 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 the Kickham Barracks site in Clonmel, which was given the green light in October 2024; the timeline for same; and the expected impact of this pioneering co-located campus for both further and higher ed…

165. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update on the work that Irish institutes are involved in with CERN. [7010/26]

166. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to provide genuinely affordable student accommodation to address the ongoing accommodation crisis for our students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6920/26]

167. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his Departments supports for Cork as a research and innovation hub; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6964/26]

168. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to outline the broad services provided in Macroom FET Centre; the number of attendees for each of the years 2023-2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6776/26]

169. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to outline the planned additional course provision in high demand areas like medicine, pharmacy and nursing. [6992/26]

170. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his reasons for refusing to abolish third level fees. [6722/26]

464. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to bridge the funding gap for disability organisations to support their members into further and higher education. [7345/26]

465. 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. [7278/26]

466. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to reduce on campus rents and make student accommodation affordable for more students. [7276/26]

467. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has examined the impact of the current means test for the SUSI grant on adult applicants who, due to the lack of available or affordable housing, continue to reside in the family home and are therefore assessed on parental income; whether a review of the SUSI means-testing arrangements is planned to add…

468. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of an appeal for a SUSI grant for a person (details supplied): when a decision is likely to be reached in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7320/26]

225. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if there are free training courses for forklift licenses; if there are arrangements with employers that may permit trainees to obtain free training to secure a forklift licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6727/26]

226. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on discussions regarding the alignment of the Youthreach calendar year with the second level calendar year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6762/26]

227. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of purpose-built student accommodation units available in Kerry in each of the years 2019 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6808/26]

228. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of apprentice registrations across all trades from 2020 to 2025, broken down by county, in tabular form. [6809/26]

1161. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount his Department has spent on legal fees for each of the years 2020-2025, in tabular form. [5538/26]

1162. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide a breakdown of expenditure by his Department and bodies, agencies or organisations under his remit on paid verification services on a platform (details supplied) or any other verified account products, for each of the years 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026; the number of verified accounts held…

1163. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the apprenticeship completion rate for cohorts commencing in 2021 and 2022, as published by SOLAS. [5685/26]

1164. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the specific timelines, accountability measures, and monitoring mechanisms which are in place to ensure the €4.55 billion Tertiary Sector Capital Investment Plan 2026–2030 is delivered on schedule and addresses existing capacity and infrastructure deficits across Ireland’s higher and further education syste…

1165. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way in which the €65.8million Targeted Enhancement Fund will be allocated to technological universities and specialist colleges, particularly in under-resourced regions, to recruit staff, expand research capacity, and support local economic development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62…

1166. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way in which investments such as the National Challenge Fund and COALESCE programme will measurably impact pressing societal issue including climate adaptation, flood risk, and social wellbeing beyond academic outputs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6242/26]

1167. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way his Department plans to scale up apprenticeships and further education opportunities to address skills shortages, including outcomes targets for literacy, digital skills, and green skills training over the next three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6243/26]

1168. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the concrete steps being taken to ensure equity of access in further and higher education, including support for students with disabilities, care leavers, and low-income backgrounds; the way progress will be measured and reported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6244/26]