Parliamentary questions

117. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures being taken or planned by his Department to increase the number of training places and pathways for individuals to gain the skills necessary to deliver energy-efficient homes, including in areas such as retrofitting, heat pump installation and sustainable construction; and if…

118. Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department has assessed barriers faced by rural students in Mayo in accessing higher education, including transport, accommodation, and digital connectivity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49868/26]

119. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on the status of each of college of future FET projects proposed throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50243/26]

120. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the funding available for a new registration system in TU Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48309/26]

121. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the plans to reduce college fees for the next academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48949/26]

122. Deputy Micheál Carrigy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether all universities providing courses for students with intellectual disabilities and autism have access to job coaching services aimed at improving employment outcomes; if gaps exist, whether measures are being considered to appoint dedicated job coaches; when any such initiative…

123. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of apprentices registered in County Clare in each of the past three years; the trades and programmes most represented among Clare apprentices; the trades and programmes most under-represented among Clare apprentices; the future plans for investment in the education and training b…

124. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the timeline for the passage of the necessary legislation to facilitate the Dundalk Institute of Technology and Queen’s Belfast strategic partnership; and for an update on the progress of the same. [50089/26]

125. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the actions taken by his Department with the third level sector to promote student exchange programmes with other countries including Taiwan that already has such a program in place. [50199/26]

126. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the cost of third level fees in the years 2024, 2025, 2026; his plans to reduce fees; and the timeframe in which such will be delivered. [50261/26]

127. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department is engaging with HSE management regarding the critical skills shortages in several key areas of the health system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49819/26]

128. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress being made in expanding apprenticeship opportunities to meet current and future skills needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50029/26]

129. Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the supports available for individuals who wish to undertake further remote study in their field, in view of the fact that many may wish to specialise/retrain while maintaining their post in the West of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49867/26]

130. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to address concerns raised by over 2,000 academics about the future of research in Ireland following an open letter to him recently. [49640/26]

131. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update on the €100 million expansion of the Tyndall National Institute at University College Cork, approved by Government on 13 January 2026 as first major project under the INSPIRE Research Infrastructure Programme, including the current status, timeline and d…

132. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the supports available to students in relation to student accommodation; the additional measures he is considering putting in place to combat the rising cost of living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50300/26]

133. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the current status of plans to develop a third-level catering college in Killarney at a site (details supplied); the progress made to date on the transfer of the site to Kerry Education and Training Board and the associated due diligence and business case; and if he will make a statemen…

134. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether his Department is examining additional measures to improve progression to higher education for people with intellectual disabilities, including expanding PATH 4 places, strengthening partnerships between education and training boards and higher education institutions, and increa…

135. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to clarify the situation regarding the refurbishment of the swimming pool at a location (details supplied). [49823/26]

136. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether he will intervene urgently to prevent large scale redundancies and the closure of courses at Carlow College. [50262/26]

137. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps being taken by his Department to improve the further and higher education experience and supports available for students with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49772/26]

138. Deputy David Maxwell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to clarify the Government’s position on student fees, in light of recent media reports suggesting that fees may not be reduced as previously indicated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37219/26]

139. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to detail his Department’s plans to address construction labour force shortfalls and the impact that will have on housing delivery; if he will consider a State construction company to increase to build public construction capacity to ensure Ireland has the workers needed to directly delive…

140. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress that will be made in 2026 and 2027 in delivering upgrades and new accommodation for the Further Education Sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50257/26]

141. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of units of student accommodation that are owned by third level colleges and universities now in use; the number owned by each institution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49817/26]