Parliamentary questions

27. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to outline his investment plan for research in the area of artificial intelligence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54274/25]

28. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the supports available for students with disabilities in further education and training under Budget 2026.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55831/25]

29. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures being taken by his Department to ensure ease of access to third level education for those with a disability and that the number of new entrants to higher education with a disability continues to increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56004/25]

30. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the details of additional funding being provided under the Student Assistance Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55995/25]

31. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on the delivery of a university campus on the northside of Cork city. [55306/25]

32. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps his Department is taking to ensure equitable access to higher education for all students given the ongoing accommodation crisis and rising cost-of-living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55957/25]

33. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department is working with the Department of Education and Youth to improve gender balance in STEM subject uptake at second level, with a view to influencing third-level course choices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54977/25]

34. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on the implementation of the Public Service Apprenticeship Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55561/25]

35. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the position regarding the provision of a new building for an adult education centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55996/25]

36. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the engagements he has had with a union (details supplied) representing apprentices since becoming Minister in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56052/25]

37. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the details on the missed targets in the last accommodation strategy; the reason this occurred; the reason there was no mention of this in Budget 2026; for an update on targets currently; if new funding will be put in place for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5574…

38. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the specific measures being taken to address the underrepresentation of women in certain STEM fields, particularly engineering, computer science and physics at third level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54976/25]

39. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress that has been made to date in increasing the number of places for Irish students in dentistry colleges in Cork and Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55462/25]

40. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department is considering extending the Human Capital Initiative Programme; if not, if replacement programmes are being developed in lieu of an extension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55835/25]

41. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if there are plans to introduce apprenticeships into further business sectors similar to the existing apprenticeship in insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55611/25]

42. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of third level students who will benefit from increasing the SUSI income threshold from €115,000 to €120,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55739/25]

43. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps he is taking to encourage more uptake in apprenticeships in skills necessary for the green transition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55311/25]

44. Deputy Micheál Carrigy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the plans his Department currently has in place to promote apprenticeships, particularly in the construction sector, to school leavers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55566/25]

45. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the actions that have been taken by him since 2024 to protect apprenticeships in Ireland due to the over-reliance on employer stability leaving the system vulnerable to fluctuations in the labour market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56054/25]

46. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on the work his Department is carrying out to assist independent students who have become estranged from their families after the age of 18 years, to prove their independence in order that they can access SUSI; if he plans to revise the rules regarding eligibility t…

47. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when the FET strategy for 2025-2029 will be published and implemented. [56016/25]

48. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if there are plans to introduce apprenticeships into further business sectors similar to the existing apprenticeship in insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55610/25]

49. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps he is taking to encourage more uptake in apprenticeships in the construction sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55310/25]

50. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the engagement he has had with the Residential Tenancies Board with regard to the student housing crisis since becoming Minister in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56053/25]

51. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress that has been made in the setting up of a hospitality education college at a site (details supplied) at Upper Park Road, Killarney; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55956/25]