Parliamentary questions

1167. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the WTE staff, by job title currently working in the National Apprenticeship Office. [71704/25]

1168. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will reconsider and reintroduce the 33% reduction on contributory fees for apprentices which was reduced to 17% in the recent budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71831/25]

1169. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to expand mental health supports in the further education and training sector. [71832/25]

1170. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the mental health supports in the further education and training sector available to students. [71833/25]

1171. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the grants available to a person (details supplied) enrolled in a course SUSI does not cover; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71992/25]

1172. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount his Department has spent on translation services from a company (details supplied) for the years 2020 to 2025 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72069/25]

1173. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on the college campus on the northside of Cork city. [72120/25]

1174. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of apprentices, by phase, in Cork, in tabular form. [72121/25]

1175. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the average time it took, from Phase 1 to completion, to complete each apprenticeship in Cork, by trade in 2025 to date, in tabular form. [72122/25]

1176. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress made over the past 12 months on each of his Department’s programme for Government commitments, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72202/25]

199. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps his Department is taking to develop and reform the placement and allocation system for apprentices, ensuring that these are reasonably within a commutable area close to where they live; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67911/25]

200. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps his Department is taking in relation to the reports that a €17 million business school at University College Cork has been permanently shelved; and for an update on the status of the matter. [67912/25]

201. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to ensure universities have up-to-date and working equipment for the sciences. [66948/25]

202. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason there are no professors at technological universities (TUs); if his Department will review this; if not, the reasons not to include professors under the remit of TUs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67913/25]

203. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps he is taking to address concerns relating to student accommodation and affordability; if he is aware that these concerns are driving regional disparities and increasing commuting burdens and costs for rural students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67669/25]

204. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way in which his Department is positioning Ireland’s education, research and skills system as the “economic Ministry” he often refers to and to that end driving national competitiveness, productivity and long-term prosperity. [67812/25]

205. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the position regarding the publication of his Department's strategy for the provision of student accommodation and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67831/25]

206. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps his Department is taking to ensure that the link between industry and the education and training sector is supported in order to facilitate the workforce in adapting to the changing needs of the economy. [67600/25]

207. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on the expansion of apprenticeship and skills programmes in 2025, particularly in new and emerging sectors such as digital health, green technologies and advanced manufacturing. [67775/25]

208. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will outline current and planned measures to expand apprenticeship and trade-focused education opportunities in north Dublin given the significant demand for skilled workers Ireland will face through major housing delivery targets and offshore renewable energy developments over th…

209. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to outline the success of Irish colleges, enterprises and other stakeholders in drawing down EU Horizon research funding; and the next steps for remaining rounds under current framework programme. [67597/25]

210. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the action that will be taken to increase the percentage of places available on the dental training course in UCC given that less than half are currently occupied by Irish students given the need for more dentists to reduce public waiting list in the south-west region; and if he will make a…

211. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress being made to address the disparity in pay being felt by some craft apprentices during their off-the-job phases of training, that is, engineering craft apprentices being paid according to outdated 2016 training allowance rates, while construction craft apprentices rece…

212. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if there are plans to vary, expand or deepen the Erasmus programme for third level students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67790/25]

213. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an outline of the engagement there has been with his Department, Dundalk IT and Queen's University Belfast about their recent partnership to create Dundalk university college; the plans for the future development and enhancement of the partnership; and if he will mak…