Questions

2594. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of projects in his Department that were delayed in 2023 and 2024 due to the change of document from the Public Spending Code to the Infrastructure Guidelines, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [75111/25]

2595. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the salary scale that applies to the Secretary General in his Department and to the head of each agency for which they are responsible; whether this scale has changed in the past two years or whether there are proposals to change this scale in the coming period; and if he will make a statement on the matter.…

2596. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount expended on advertising and promotion in his Department, and within each agency for which he is responsible, for 2022 to 2024, by year and budgeted for 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [75215/25]

2597. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of press, media or communications staff currently employed in his Department and within each agency for which he is responsible; the cost of these staff for 2025 and the expected cost for 2026; whether there are proposals to increase the number of such staff; and if he will make a statement on the…

2598. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost to his Department and to each agency for which they are responsible arising from Ireland’s presidency of the European Council; the line items or events for which a cost is expected to arise and the estimated cost for each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [75251/25]

2599. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the priorities of his Department and each agency for which they are responsible in respect of Ireland’s presidency of the European Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [75269/25]

2600. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason, based on the new rules which mandate that adult educators can only work 20 hours teaching time and 15 hours non-teaching per week, only 20 hours are pensionable rather than 35 hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1009/26]

2601. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the details of the number of foreign students in Ireland for each of the past ten years, by sector, including English language colleges; the details of the State's target number up to 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1015/26]

2602. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the details on the number of English language schools operating in the State, per annum over the past ten years; the number enrolled per annum; the number of schools found to be not operating legitimately or fully compliant in terms of provision of English language education; the actions taken ag…

2603. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the position regarding access to SUSI grant support for students enrolled on part-time higher education programmes which carry a full academic workload of 60 ECTS credits per academic year; whether consideration has been given to amending eligibility criteria to take account of the actual academic intensi…

2604. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number and location of the student residential accommodation places that will be provided by the National Student Accommodation Strategy; and the Short-Term Activation Programme; and to provide a timeline for the same. [1195/26]

2605. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if consideration will be given to providing pay for occupational therapy students currently providing services in placement programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1365/26]

2606. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the quantity of third level purpose built student accommodation in each year from 2018 to date; by location ; by higher education institution and private organisation properties, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1501/26]

2607. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number and percentage of third level students in purpose built student accommodation in each year from 2018 to date; by location; by higher education institution and private organisation properties, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1502/26]

2608. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of purpose built student accommodation bed spaces available for students with disabilities, the number of students that requested such spaces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1522/26]

2609. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of apprenticeship registrations in the construction sector, by type in each of the years 2023, 2024 and 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1632/26]

2610. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of students in receipt of grant support under the SUSI scheme for each of the years 2023, 2024 and 2025, broken down by level of education under the National Framework of Qualifications and level of grant funding provided, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1688/26]

2611. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of students currently enrolled in PLCs in receipt of grant support under the SUSI scheme for each of the years 2023, 2024 and 2025, broken down by level of education under the National Framework of Qualifications and level of grant funding provided, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement …

2612. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the date on which a supplementary estimate or supplementary estimates was sought in respect of his Department’s Vote for each of the past ten years, and to the date in 2026; the gross and net amount involved in each case; and the Vote subheads to which each supplementary estimate related. [1796/26]

2613. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the value of expenditure originally allocated in the Estimates to specific programmes or staffing measures that could not be spent as planned within the year for each of the past five years; and whether such underspends were surrendered, carried forward, or reallocated to other areas within the Vote. [1817/…

2614. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department can address the serious issue of long-term (CID) contract holders at FET institutes (details supplied) who are not getting the requested additional hours they are entitled to, before new appointments are advertised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1866/26]

2615. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the position regarding any product or service purchased from Israel or the Occupied Territories by his Department in 2025, broken down by description and amount paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1982/26]

2616. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether his Department, or any body under its aegis, has funded, or is funding, other than where legal costs were awarded against the employer by a court or tribunal, the legal costs of any current or concluded litigation taken by an employee or former employee against that Department or body, in each of th…

2617. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the basis on which his Department, or a body under its aegis, may fund the legal costs of an employee or former employee in litigation where that employee is in dispute with, or taking proceedings against, the same body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2040/26]

2618. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether the funding of employee legal costs in disputes against his Department, or a body under its aegis, is standard practice; if not, the circumstances in which such funding may be permitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2058/26]