Parliamentary questions

101. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on the progress made regarding the funding issues at SOLAS and ETB apprenticeship training programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37556/25]

102. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans for a renewed action plan to succeed the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025; if the new action plan will have a focus on apprentice wages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37310/25]

103. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will confirm that SOLAS is in receipt of sufficient funding from the State to ensure that it can deliver on its annual service plan and operate accordingly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36974/25]

104. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the means by which he intends to implement the programme for Government commitments regarding the cost of third level education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37436/25]

105. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will reverse his decision to increase the student contribution fee for third level undergraduate students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37415/25]

106. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to detail the uptake of the supports to help to achieve a better gender balance in apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37513/25]

107. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on his Department's plans for the reduction of the student contribution fee as per the commitments in the programme for Government. [37331/25]

108. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the impact of the increases in the SUSI grant levels introduced in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37308/25]

109. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on the funding cut to apprenticeships in Meath and across the State; his assessment of the practical impact of this cut; the measures he is taking to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37297/25]

110. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will explain the rationale for the reported decision not to proceed with further reductions in the student contribution fee, in light of the commitment made in the programme for Government to reduce these fees over the lifetime of the Government; and if he will make a statement on…

111. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will expand the number of third level places related to therapies in the disability sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37651/25]

112. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to clarify his recent comments regarding the student contribution fee, and if he will give clarity on how much students and their families will be paying in September 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37646/25]

113. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps being taken to reach the target of 750 apprenticeships in the public service and Civil Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37601/25]

114. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if there is a detailed plan on how the National Training Fund will be expanded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37309/25]

115. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to outline the work being undertaken by his Department to increase the number of craft apprenticeships nationally, given their importance in meeting national construction and housing retrofit targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37371/25]

116. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of leaving certificate holders who accepted a university place in each of the past ten years; the number of persons who graduated from university in each of the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37510/25]

117. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for the latest update on the implementation of a ‘second chance’ provision to ensure students undertaking a repeat year or changing courses once can still access the free fees initiative, thereby avoiding financial penalties through higher fee rates, as committed to in the programme for Go…

118. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on the development of the Modern Methods of Construction Demonstration Park at Mount Lucas; the number of beneficiaries who will receive near zero energy building and retrofitting training at the centre in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37617/25]

119. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the same income eligibility limits for SUSI grants are applicable for students attending approved colleges and courses outside our jurisdiction, such as in Northern Ireland, Britain or the rest of the EU, as are applicable for students attending approved colleges or courses in this St…

120. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to outline the targeted supports he intends to give to families for the upcoming college year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37437/25]

121. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his rationale regarding the change in the student contribution charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37620/25]

122. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps his Department is taking to ensure that the construction of the five new higher education buildings aligns with and supports universities' carbon reduction targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37613/25]

123. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to outline the number of students in receipt of various levels of SUSI grant; his plans to improve access to higher education by expanding the SUSI grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37373/25]

124. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science about the proposed increase in third level fees, if this proposed increase will be in place for September 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37634/25]

125. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider providing a career pathway for healthcare assistant profession through a third level course, apprenticeship, social care degree or community care degree; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37633/25]