Parliamentary questions

399. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to support the further development of lifelong learning and training opportunities across the education and skills system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38397/25]

400. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to clarify a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38492/25]

401. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to clarify an issue surrounding the student contribution fee (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38502/25]

402. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the details for the past three years and the current year funding allocated or paid out for Departmental employees for legal study programmes including EU law in the past three years, detailing the course title, the course provider, the course fees, grade of employee supported, whether cou…

403. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to outline any contact with the President of Griffith College in relation to the years of preparatory work which was undertaken between Griffith College and Ferdowski University in Mashhad in the establishment of the joint undergraduate accounting programme between the two instituti…

404. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in his Department; the AI technologies the Department uses, the purpose and function of said technology in the context of the work of the Department, and the associated costs of the licensing or use of AI by the Department i…

405. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether his Department has done any scoping exercises on the impact of the announced increase in third level registration fees to €3,000 on medium and low income families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38635/25]

257. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if specific transport will be put in place for a student (details supplied) with additional needs [38011/25]

258. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 954 of 17 June 2025, when a reply can be expected. [38041/25]

259. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the additional resources and funding that will be provided to the National Apprenticeship Office to adequately address the growing backlog of apprentices waiting to progress on their apprenticeship phases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38092/25]

260. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further and higher education; the resources that will be provided to QQI to expedite the approval and accreditation of new courses and programmes from education providers to meet emerging skill needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38094/25]

261. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science ; if he is aware that contracted adult education teachers across the State have been informed that due to underfunding of Solas by his Department, there is no further contract for them after the summer break; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38095/25]

262. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware that rather than “regularisation of pay for tutors in ETBs” the signing of adult educator contracts it has resulted in adult educators in their first three years of employment being left with no further contracts due to funding constraints in Solas as a consequence of …

263. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider legislating to ensure that examiners and invigilators in the further education sector are put on the same tax footing as those in the compulsory education sector (details supplied). [38123/25]

264. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if adequate funding will be allocated in order that there can be full and proper provision of adult education, with regard to adult educators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38260/25]

265. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department is planning an audit of the programme for research in third-level institutions (PRTLI) some of whom are using equipment that is now 30 years old, or nearing obsolescence; if there will be funding available to provide much-needed updated infrastructure and equipment f…

266. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the percentage of students participating in the HEAR/DARE programme for 2023, 2024 and 2025, in tabular form.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38262/25]

267. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for details on the 2026 academic year funding to reduce student contributions; if the temporary reduction in the student contribution fee will continue or if the base figure prior to cost-of-living measures of €3,000 will be re-instated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. …

268. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount being allocated for core funding for the 2026 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38264/25]

269. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount of funding that will be needed for the 2026 academic year in order to allow for an increase SUSI by 20%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38265/25]

96. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on developments from his and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage's refusal to provide a second-year cost-of-living package for students, despite the cost-of-living crisis continuing, resulting in student fees increasing by €1,000; and if he will make a…

97. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on the programme for Government commitment to continue to reduce the student contribution fee over the lifetime of the Government, as of July 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37316/25]

98. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for information on the decision behind the cut of €1.3 million from SOLAS to the Tipperary Education and Training Board, which has resulted in the cancellation of a valuable programme for early school leavers at Cashel local training initiative, which affects 14 students who will be un…

99. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the protections his Department can give to apprentices to ensure they receive the agreed wage and are doing work relevant to their apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37829/25]

100. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department will create a centralised third level information hub for students. [37814/25]