Questions

1492. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if supplementary funding will be provided in 2026 to address recognised legacy shortfalls in funding for public sector pay awards in the higher education sector; the estimated value of any such outstanding shortfall; and the measures planned to address these costs on a recurring basis through core grant…

1493. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount of funding provided towards closing the identified funding gap of €307 million per annum since the publication of Funding the Future in May 2022; the remaining annual funding gap each year; and the cumulative value of these funding shortfalls over the period for each year, in tabular form. [6…

1494. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the research conducted by Research Ireland on chronic migraine in Ireland; his plans to support additional research on this topic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64610/26]

1495. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to report on the current average cost for student accommodation per month; and his views on whether the current accommodation costs have obstructed young people from pursuing third level education. [64596/26]

1496. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the safeguards in place to ensure that healthcare practices presented to students and healthcare professionals in higher education institutions are appropriately distinguished between established evidence-based practice, emerging research, and unproven practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter.…

1497. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether he is satisfied that University College Cork's child safeguarding and research governance procedures have been appropriately considered in relation to educational material concerning infants and lactation presented at the TransCare 2026 conference; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6470…

1498. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether his Department has any role in ensuring appropriate research, clinical evidence and safeguarding standards are applied to healthcare-related educational events hosted by publicly funded higher education institutions, in view of the TransCare 2026 conference at University College Cork; and if he will …

1499. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason SOLAS was allowed to give exam papers to apprentices on modules that were not covered (details supplied). [64786/26]

1500. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the details of any contracts in place between his Department and agencies under his remit with a company (details supplied) known to have provided material support to the IDF in Gaza, which the Government considers to be guilty of genocide, since 2023. [64860/26]

1501. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number and percentages of HEAR-DARE scheme applicants from fee-paying schools compared to those from DEIS schools, and other non-fee-paying schools, in each of the years 2020 to 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form. [64896/26]

1502. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of students who applied to the HEAR-DARE scheme; and the number who were accepted and not accepted in each of the years from 2020 to 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form. [64893/26]

1503. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measurable action he and the HEA will take to identify and support student carers, and to monitor their access, participation and outcomes, before the National Access Plan concludes in 2028. [64234/26]

1504. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware of concerns regarding the removal or alteration of progression pathways from the BA home economics programme at St. Angela's College to professional master of education programmes. [64928/26]

1505. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason a student (details supplied) cannot defer their third level course. [65334/26]

1506. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the veterinary medicine course offered in Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences is equivalent in terms of qualification to the veterinary medicine course offered in UCD; and if not, the reason for this. [65438/26]

1507. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in cases in which a building under his control is not wheelchair accessible, the reason for this; his plans to remedy this; and the timeline for measures to be completed. [65348/26]

1508. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether education and training boards, micro-credential programmes, lifelong learning initiatives or other further education and training funding streams may be utilised to support the delivery of specialist programmes in areas such as apiculture and pollinator conservation; and if he will make a statement …

1509. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether his Department has assessed the impact of funding pressures within the higher education sector on the viability of specialist or niche programmes, particularly those relating to biodiversity, environmental sustainability and rural skills development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6…

1510. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures being taken by his Department to address the funding shortfall facing higher education institutions; the impact this shortfall is having on continuing and adult education programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65479/26]

1511. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the funding mechanisms that exist or are planned to support specialist educational programmes which contribute to national biodiversity, pollinator protection and environmental sustainability objectives, including programmes in apiculture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65478/26]

1512. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the suspension of the Diploma in Apiculture programme at the University of Galway; whether any engagement has taken place between his Department and the university regarding the future provision of apiculture education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65477…

1513. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the wheelchair accessibility of all buildings under his control; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65318/26]

1514. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the assessment his Department has made of the potential for converting vacant and disused buildings into affordable student accommodation; and the funding or incentives are available to facilitate such conversions. [64681/26]

1515. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason a person (details supplied) has been refused the SUSI grant. [65785/26]

1516. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans for new apprenticeships to be offered in County Clare; and the timeframe to have them up and running. [65783/26]