Questions

1129. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans for IADT as the only remaining Institute of Technology to remain following the announcement of the partnership between Dundalk Institute of Technology and Queen’s University Belfast, with the intention of the former eventually becoming a university college of the latter. [14576/26]

1130. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if plans for IADT to achieve university designation will be through the Technological Universities Act 2018, or an amendment to that act, thereby preserving the alignment with other Technological Universities in terms of contracts and terms and conditions of both existing and future academic staff. …

1131. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether a guarantee will be provided that academic staff and their representative trade union (details supplied) will be consulted at all stages and on all plans relating to IADT achieving university designation; and whether he will additionally guarantee that the May 2017 collective bargaining agre…

1140. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures that have been taken to ensure the proposed €60 million investment in a supercomputer will provide researchers with access to the latest computing technologies compared with cloud-based services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15036/26]

1141. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the Fund for Students with Disabilities will be expanded to include students who attend agricultural colleges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15072/26]

388. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide details of the broad services provided in a centre (details supplied); the number of attendees at this training centre in the years of 2023, 2024 and 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10952/26]

1239. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the scholarships that may be available for a Palestinian citizen pursuing postgraduate medical studies (details supplied); and the way they can be accessed. [9181/26]

1253. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider extending phase 2 PATH 4 pilot funding until the end of the National Access Plan in 2028, which would provide job security for programme staff and ensure a further cohort of learners can benefit from course offerings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9803/26]

1254. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to expedite a site in Killarney, County Kerry as a centre for training and education to service the hospitality sector, (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10016/26]

1195. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science given that 3rd level institutions produce lists of counsellors/psychotherapists for their students who wish to engage in personal therapy, his views on the way in which these institutions choose these counsellors/psychotherapists, given that there is no existing set of professional standards; and if he …

1196. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science given that 3rd level institutions produce lists of counsellors/psychotherapists for their students who have to engage in supervision, his views on the way in which these institutions choose these counsellors/psychotherapists, given that there is no existing set of professional standards; and if he will …

1197. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way in which he plans to ensure that people in lower socioeconomic backgrounds can train to become counsellors/therapists given that the cost of these courses are several thousand euro, before the added expense of textbooks, personal therapy, supervision; and if he will make a statement on the matte…

88. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the plans within his Department to develop a further and expanded phase of programme for access to higher education, PATH, 4 funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6868/26]

96. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the work being undertaken by his Department to secure pathways to further and higher education for people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5970/26]

107. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on measures being taken to support the continued development of a college (details supplied), including capital investment, student capacity and facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7000/26]

118. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the current position regarding the proposed major building project for a college (details supplied); the timeline for this project to proceed to the next stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6899/26]

128. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on plans to deliver new, permanent accommodation for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5367/26]

129. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the current regional distribution of capital investment in higher education infrastructure, in view of growing concerns that universities and technological universities in the west and north-west are falling behind due to underfunding; the steps he is taking to ensure balanced regional development; and if he…

131. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of extra college places being created in September 2026 and September 2027 to ensure adequate supply of new speech and language therapists and occupational therapists, to meet the increasing demands of the care system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6995/26]

134. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the plans his Department has to increase the mental health supports provided in further and higher education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6844/26]

136. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is following developments to bring diverse further education and training streams together under a single brand such as the Dublin college initiative being led by DDLETB; whether he is encouraging other education and training boards to take a similar approach in order to strengthen their further and …

144. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps being taken to accelerate delivery of new FET infrastructure, given the growing demand for apprenticeships and upskilling opportunities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6866/26]

149. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department has carried out any analysis of university courses in which maximum leaving certificate points did not guarantee admission due to demand; if he will list the courses where this applied, alongside the number of places available through the CAO for these courses and the number of places availa…

153. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the actions he is taking to expand access to further and higher education for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, including those with disabilities and caring responsibilities; whether he is satisfied that current supports are sufficient to meet rising demand; and if he will make a statement on the ma…

155. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if an institute of further education or any other educational campus outside Dundalk in County Louth is being considered as satellites, or linked in any way with (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6396/26]