Parliamentary questions

1136. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if any universities in Ireland have or currently receive funding from China and/or have been persuaded not to study certain subjects or topics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61291/25]

1137. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on the south campus Tralee, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61332/25]

1138. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of apprenticeships registered in Dublin northwest from 2022 to date in 2025, by LEA, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61350/25]

1139. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of students which are enrolled in Dublin City University for the 2025-2026 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61439/25]

1140. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of students which are enrolled in University of Galway for the 2025-2026 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61440/25]

1141. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of first year students enrolled in Trinity College Dublin for the 2025-2026 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61441/25]

1142. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 2090 of 4 November 2025, the timeline for the establishment of the sectoral working group mentioned; the way in which he plans to measure demand for Irish tertiary education; and if he intends to formulate a rights-based strategic policy on…

1143. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the level of foresight or future planning that operates within his Department; who is responsible for long-term planning; the input these individuals or teams have into Departmental policy and practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61663/25]

1144. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the form of support his Department is giving to the Higher Education Authority who stated that the Technical University Dublin is in a deteriorating financial position (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61728/25]

1145. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on the HEA financial recovery plan for TU Dublin from July 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61729/25]

1146. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for a detailed and up-to-date report on TU Dublin regarding the provision of a monthly cash flow statement to the HEA; to outline what the agreed deliverables are up to December 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61730/25]

1147. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the plans his Department has to address TU Dublin deficits, which are reported to be because of a decrease in student numbers because of associated tuition fee income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61731/25]

1148. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department will provide information about TU Dublin and payments in 2024 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61732/25]

1149. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department will provide detailed information about TU Dublin’s payroll matters identified in HEA recovery plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61733/25]

1150. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department has investigated the reason TU Dublin’s legal spend increased in 2024 more than threefold from €204,228 to €658,821; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61734/25]

1151. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider the introduction of a national trade licensing system for construction workers and contractors, similar to the model used in Australia, to enhance accountability, safety, and quality assurance across the building industry; and if he will make a statement on the matt…

1152. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider the establishment of a dedicated construction training board to address skills shortages and promote continuous professional development across the construction sector with a view to improving quality, safety, and workforce standards in line with national housing an…

1153. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of students in receipt of SUSI grants; the percentage each group represents of the overall student body, by threshold group (partial fees, full fees, fees plus maintenance); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61834/25]

1154. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware that the Commission for Regulation of Utilities excluded electric instrumentation tradespeople from registering with Safe Electric, both as a registered electrical contractor and attaining a qualified certifier number; the reasons for this decision and the timeline …

1155. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware that by denying electric instrumentation tradespeople from being able to register with Safe Electric, these tradespeople are prevented from starting their own electrical business (domestic, commercial or industrial) and by being denied a QC number, they cannot sign …

1156. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views that by denying electric instrumentation tradespeople from being able to register with Safe Electric, barriers are being placed in the way of electric instrumentation tradespeople currently living abroad who wish to return to Ireland to live and work under the build back…

1157. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the concrete action his Department will take to ensure that electric instrumentation tradespeople are able to register with Safe Electric; his views this is a necessary pressing step that needs to be taken urgently, particularly as regards to tradespeople returning to Ireland unde…

1158. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department is aware that a recent Speak Out report states only one in eight third-level students who anonymously disclosed experiences of bullying, assault or sexual violence over a two-year period felt comfortable making a formal report to their higher education institution; …

1159. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department plans to expand the criteria for the SUSI grant to include persons who have become estranged from their family, and therefore cannot be supported by their family's income, and do not have the paperwork to prove this estrangement; and if he will make a statement on t…

1160. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider extending the scope for the free fees initiative, which caps undergraduate fees at €3000, or €2500 as of the Budget 2026, to include undergraduate courses in higher education institutions that are currently excluded from the fee cap arrangements; and if he will make…