Parliamentary questions

52. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will carry out a full review of affordability of third level fees for students who come from median household income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55761/25]

53. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to bring community training centre staff into public sector pay grades and pay and conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55973/25]

54. Deputy Micheál Carrigy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update on the progress towards the PfG target of 12,500 annual apprenticeship registrations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55565/25]

55. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way in which his Department will invest in apprenticeships following the significant allocation made in Budget 2026. [55836/25]

56. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when the recommendation from Universities Ireland, which was agreed by individual universities, to drop the requirement for four A-levels from students for a more equitable points conversion system was announced and made public to schools and the student population in the North of Ire…

57. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on the work his Department has taken to advance the provision of purpose-built student accommodation at third-level institutions around the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53895/25]

58. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science cé na bearta atá sé chun a dhéanamh chun tabhairt faoina laghad cúrsaí tríú leibhéal trí Ghaeilge atá á dtairiscint ag forais tríú leibhéal atá á maoiniú ag an Stát. [54512/25]

59. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will review the current SUSI income threshold and related grant supports for students from low and middle-income families in rural constituencies such as Galway east, where transport and accommodation costs are significantly higher due to limited public transport and distance from thi…

60. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science cén plean atá aige chun a chinntiú go mbeidh dóthain céimithe inniúlacha a bhfuil Gaeilge acu ann chun gur féidir leis an Státchóras cloí le forálacha Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú), 2021 go mbeadh 20 faoin gcéad de phoist folmha líonta ó 2030 ar aghaidh ag Gaeilgeoirí lí…

61. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the engagements he has had with an organisation (details supplied) since August 2025 with regard to Budget 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56051/25]

62. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the extensive waiting lists for mental health supports in third level institutions; the actions he will take to address these delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54867/25]

63. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for further detail on the new 1,100 course places being provided under Budget 2026 in key health and social care professions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54994/25]

64. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil den Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science cad iad na bearta atá á nglacadh ag a roinn chun cúrsaí tríú leibhéal trí Ghaeilge a leathnú i gcomhréir leis an sprioc earcaíochta 20% de chuid na hearnála poiblí. [56003/25]

65. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if funding has been allocated in Budget 2026 for the review into how students with disabilities are accommodated at third level; when the review will commence and finish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55896/25]

66. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he plans to review the operation of the student grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55562/25]

67. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on a new building for college (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54273/25]

68. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on the Kilkenny further education and training centre. [56028/25]

69. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on any progress being made on the funding issues at SOLAS and ETBs’ apprenticeship training programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55895/25]

70. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the proportion of his Department’s research budget which is allocated for new research versus earmarked or pre-committed to existing programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55974/25]

71. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on the uptake of apprenticeships across the country in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56029/25]

72. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the national student accommodation strategy, which was due to be updated in 2024, and if he could provide a date for publication of an updated strategy. [55763/25]

73. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide clarification in relation to Local Training Initiative Operating Guidelines (details supplied); if this policy means that LTIs are not financially independent and cannot generate or retain income to improve wages or conditions, given all funding is fully controlled a…

74. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of people currently employed to provide training to apprentices, by apprenticeship programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55738/25]

75. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department has examined the option of widening the apprenticeship routes to include routes into engineering; if his Department will provide greater information and training to guidance counsellors on engineering careers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55833/25]

76. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of students who were awarded SUSI grants in the current academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55461/25]