Parliamentary questions

3347. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for a nationwide breakdown of all craft apprenticeships, with details on the number of students began their apprenticeships in each category in 2024 and the number of these students that dropped out of their studies in 2025, by category, in tabular form; and if he will make a stateme…

3348. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for a breakdown of the number of students qualified in the craft apprenticeship program of plumbing in 2024 and 2025; for a breakdown of funding costs of this program for both years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41791/25]

3349. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for a breakdown of the number of students qualified in the craft apprenticeship program of electrical apprenticeships in 2024 and 2025; for a breakdown of funding costs of this program for both years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41792/25]

3350. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for a breakdown of the number of students qualified in the craft apprenticeship program of brick and stone laying in 2024 and 2025; for a breakdown of funding costs of this program for both years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41793/25]

3351. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for a breakdown of the number of students qualified in the craft apprenticeship program of geo-drilling in 2024 and 2025; for a breakdown of funding costs of this program for both years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41794/25]

3352. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for a breakdown of the number of students qualified in the craft apprenticeship program of painting and decorating in 2024 and 2025; for a breakdown of funding costs of this program for both years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41795/25]

3353. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for a breakdown of the number of students qualified in the craft apprenticeship program of plastering in 2024 and 2025; for a breakdown of funding costs of this program; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41796/25]

3354. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for a breakdown of the number of students qualified in the craft apprenticeship program of scaffolding in 2024 and 2025; for a breakdown of funding costs of this program for both years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41797/25]

3355. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for a breakdown of the number of students qualified in the craft apprenticeship program of stone cutting and stone masonry in 2024 and 2025; for a breakdown of funding costs of this program for both years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41798/25]

3356. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for a breakdown of the number of students qualified in the craft apprenticeship program wood manufacturing and finishing in 2024 and 2025; for a breakdown of funding costs of this program for both years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41799/25]

3357. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of students who qualified in the craft apprenticeship program of carpentry and joinery in 2024 and 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41804/25]

3358. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason his Department has reduced the points on the health professions admission test required for studying medicine (HPAT) from 300 to 150 points, and for the Leaving Certificate points from 565 to 625; the supports available for those unable to afford to pay privately up to €67…

3359. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason no capital funding was allocated in 2025 for the Technological University of the Shannon compared with the previous year when there was an allocation of €10,195,462.18; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41806/25]

3360. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason no capital funding was allocated for Southeast Technological University in 2025 compared to 2024 when €8,536,167.02 was allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41807/25]

3361. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason there was a significant decrease in capital funding for Atlantic Technological University from €20,128,416.48 in 2024 to just €752,300.00 in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41808/25]

3362. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason there was a significant decrease in capital funding for Munster Technological University of €6,076,595.51 in 2025 compared to €11,118,095.28 in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41809/25]

3363. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a company (details supplied) had a contract with his Department in the years of 2024 and to-date in 2025; and if so, the nature of the services provided by this company to his Department in each of the years in question. [41879/25]

3364. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the plans he has to advance education, training and maintenance of new digital skills, particularly STEM subjects, to assist girls; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41956/25]

3365. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the work his Department has carried out on the review of the gender equality action plan for higher education referenced in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42039/25]

3366. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he uses personal emails for his Government business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42174/25]

3367. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the details of any messaging provider downloaded on his ministerial phone; the details of any provider downloaded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42175/25]

3368. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures he will take to ensure that staff working in adult education are not reliant on social welfare during the summer months; the timeline for when these measures will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42217/25]

3369. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the engagement his Department has had with the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade regarding the difficulties Palestinian students with scholarships to study in Ireland are having with obtaining visas in time to commence study…

3370. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of students studying English language courses in the State in each of the past ten years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42321/25]

3371. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the breakdown by country of origin of students studying English language courses in the State in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42322/25]