Questions

3313. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason adult education teachers are being told there is no role or guarantee of hours for the coming academic year, while positions are being advertised for new recruits, and while Government is increasing funding to the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40716/25]

3336. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science despite an increased investment in SOLAS for the FET sector of 37% since 2020 and with an allocation of over €1 billion in 2025, the reason his Department is making cuts in SOLAS funding by his Department, resulting in contracts for adult educators not being renewed; and if he will make a statement on t…

3384. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware that an education and training board has capped the number of places available for specialist training (details supplied) resulting in vulnerable students, many of whom have a disability or require additional supports being denied a further education place this year; and if he will make a s…

3385. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on the progress that has been achieved to date on the development of College of the Future for Cavan Institute. [42802/25]

3393. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide details on the breakdown of costs from the funding the future programme, as announced in June 2025 as part of the amendment of the National Training Fund Act over a six-year period from 2025 to 2030, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42992/25]

3420. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if there has been any progress in expanding the number of dental college places offered to students in University College Cork and Trinity College Dublin in light of the 2023 announcement by his Department to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44017/25]

3421. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total amount of funding allocated to dental colleges in University College Cork and Trinity College Dublin for the academic years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44018/25]

3422. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if additional funding will be provided to the dental schools in University College Cork which have submitted proposals to the Department for the expansion of their training programme, which would involve the development of a new hub in which additional students could be trained and practice; and if he will ma…

3427. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated full-year costs of doubling the number of third level places available for therapeutic courses (details supplied). [44354/25]

589. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of the review of specialist training programmes which has been ongoing since 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40464/25]

314. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the discretion SOLAS has to spend funding from his Department as they wish; the nature of the oversight provided by his Department; and if SOLAS will be brought in front of the public accounts committee to explain their inability to fund Adult Education. [39828/25]

1014. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the rationale for excluding the BA (Hons) in psychology course at the National College of Ireland from eligibility under the free fees initiative (FFI), given that all other undergraduate courses at the institution are deemed eligible and that the psychology degree is accredited by the Psychological Society…

1016. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has visited a training centre (details supplied) since his appointment as Minister; if so, the purpose of the visit. [38797/25]

1022. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to investigate a master’s course issue (details supplied) as a student is now at a significant loss; if his Department will have this course reinstated; if the student will be reimbursed; the other options available to the student; if he accepts that this is unacceptable; and if he will make a statement o…

1023. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will act to ensure that a university swiftly acquires accreditation for a course (details supplied), and that current students will not be penalised for administrative or procedural delays beyond their control; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38962/25]

1028. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware that the biomedical science degree programmes at University College Dublin are currently not accredited by CORU, the national regulator for health and social care professionals; the steps being taken to ensure that current students are not disadvantaged by this lack of accreditation; if he wil…

1030. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to urgently examine the case for allowing the second year of a master programme to proceed (details supplied); so that students may complete their studies and the funded year under the HCI Pillar 3 is not a complete waste of funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39443/25]

1031. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures he plans to introduce to support those wishing to pursue graduate entry medicine, a path that remains highly inaccessible for very many people, in light of widespread and well-documented shortages of GPs; whether he will consider a return of service bursary, similar to the Scottish mo…

111. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will expand the number of third level places related to therapies in the disability sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37651/25]

118. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on the development of the Modern Methods of Construction Demonstration Park at Mount Lucas; the number of beneficiaries who will receive near zero energy building and retrofitting training at the centre in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37617/25]

125. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider providing a career pathway for healthcare assistant profession through a third level course, apprenticeship, social care degree or community care degree; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37633/25]

155. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to expedite work on a site (details supplied) in Killarney, County Kerry, by developing a state-of-the-art campus focusing on skills development in hospitality training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37610/25]

157. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if consideration is being given to expanding employer placement opportunities as a formal component of university programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37563/25]

162. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the plans in place to increase the number of degree courses for occupational therapy and speech and language therapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37632/25]

168. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will outline the steps being taken to integrate green skills across further and higher education programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37562/25]