Parliamentary questions

370. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the efforts his Department is making to address the low uptake from employers taking on disabled people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64041/25]

371. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the efforts his Department is making to address the shortage of guidance counsellors at ETBs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64043/25]

372. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to address the low uptake from employers taking on Traveller apprentices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64044/25]

373. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progression pathways in place for disabled people who have completed their apprentices and are ready for employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64045/25]

374. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the efforts his Department is making to ensure there is more awareness for employers about disability supports for disabled qualified apprentices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64046/25]

375. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the efforts his Department is making to address the low uptake of disabled people doing apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64047/25]

376. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider measures to improve the parity of esteem for FET level education; if it is possible to introduce higher levels of qualifications, for example level 7, in apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64048/25]

377. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount that was spent in each of the past five years, and in 2025 to date, in promoting Ireland as a destination for foreign students to study at either in third level or in English language schools in the State, broken down by the country in which the promotion took place, in tabular …

378. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64320/25]

1158. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if she will consider amending legislation governing SUSI to allow students who have previously completed Springboard courses to have these courses discounted in terms of progression when applying for SUSI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63137/25]

1159. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the rights a returning emigrant with two children who worked in Ireland for 12 to 13 years before emigrating to the USA has in relation to their teenage child's university education and the cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63814/25]

1160. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated number of construction workers required annually to meet the housing delivery targets in Delivering Homes, Building Communities; the current size of the construction workforce; and the projected shortfall. [63920/25]

1161. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the apprenticeship intake and completion figures for construction-related trades in 2023 and 2024; the expected intake for 2025; and how these figures align with the workforce required to meet annual housing targets. [63921/25]

1162. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated construction workforce required in Cork city and Cork county to meet regional housing targets under Delivering Homes, Building Communities; the current workforce level; and the actions planned to bridge any shortfall. [63929/25]

1163. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the process by which apprentices are given a place for their off-the-job training (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62723/25]

1164. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason in technological universities (TUs) there are no grades for professors; if there are plans to introduce a new grade; if so, when given it will help with inequalities between TUs and universities in this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62728/25]

1165. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when he will publish the Statement of Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62782/25]

1166. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason a TU postgraduate gets €10,000 less than other postgraduates; if there is funding for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62806/25]

1167. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when unsuccessful applicants to the 2025 Research Ireland COALESCE grant will receive the reviewer feedback from the international panel; if he is aware of the significant delays facing applicants during this process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62851/25]

1168. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department is currently on schedule to meet its obligations under the first Programme Plan of Action of the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People; and to outline any risks to delivery that have already been identified. [62896/25]

1169. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to establish a research and science forum of industry and research experts similar to the Responsible Business Forum. [62943/25]

1170. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update on funding allocations for student accommodation developments at regional universities and technological universities. [62969/25]

1171. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of vacancies which arose at principal officer level for the years 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025 in his Department and agencies under the aegis of his Department; the number of these vacancies filled between internal and external methods; the number of vacancies each ye…

1172. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department will consider extending the SUSI grant to graduate medicine students in appreciation of the vital role these graduates will play in the healthcare system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63138/25]

1173. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider implementing a maintenance allowance grant to graduate medicine students who are on GP or hospital placements outside of their home area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63139/25]