Questions

1504. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware of concerns regarding the removal or alteration of progression pathways from the BA home economics programme at St. Angela's College to professional master of education programmes. [64928/26]

1505. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason a student (details supplied) cannot defer their third level course. [65334/26]

255. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if. during discussions with a college (details supplied) and SETU prior to the announcement of the closure of the former, his Department was aware that redundancies would be a necessary or likely outcome of the negotiations. [52140/26]

256. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the person or body that completed the independent valuation of the lands and property of a college (details supplied) ; whether the report will be released to the public or interested parties; whether any other valuations carried out, and if so, by which organisations; and whether there was any disco…

257. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether his Department has ensured that certain conditions were attached to the finances made available for the wind down of operations and teach-out at a college (details supplied), namely redundancy packages ringfenced for all staff. [52142/26]

925. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to develop national tools to record and monitor commuter students, including numbers, commuting characteristics, intersectional factors and educational outcomes and to build commuter student data collection into existing national data collection tools. [47878/26]

1329. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when the Adult Literacy for Life (ALL) Oversight Group last met; when the National Literacy Coalition last met; the reasons for the apparent pause in meetings since summer 2024; and his timeline and plans for the restructuring of governance arrangements referenced in the Budget 2026 Expenditure Report. [3…

1330. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether any interim governance or decision-making structures are currently in place for the ALL Strategy in the absence of regular meetings of the Oversight Group and National Literacy Coalition; and how stakeholder engagement is being maintained during this period. [36960/26]

1331. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the current status of the independent mid-term review of the Adult Literacy for Life Strategy; when it is expected to commence and conclude; and whether the review will be published. [36961/26]

1332. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the consultation process that is planned as part of the mid-term review of the ALL Strategy; whether key stakeholders, including the National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA), adult learners, and education and training providers, will be involved; and how the Oireachtas Committee will be enabled to contribute…

1333. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress that has been made against the key targets of the Adult Literacy for Life Strategy since its launch in 2021; and whether updated performance indicators will be published alongside the mid-term review. [36963/26]

1334. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way in which his Department is ensuring cross Government accountability for delivery of the ALL Strategy, given its whole of government approach; and which Minister has overall responsibility for its implementation. [36964/26]

214. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the position regarding his work to make higher education and higher education institutions more accessible for those coming from communities with higher levels of disadvantage. [22300/26]

247. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the position regarding the imminent loss of employment facing a number of adult educators in east Galway, despite ongoing learner demand and available funded work in GRETB centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22093/26]

2267. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the expected date on which the performance and evaluation framework for the National Demonstration Park for Modern Methods of Construction will be formally approved; whether the framework will be published; and whether it will include measurable targets relating to housing output, training capacity, and cons…

2268. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the membership of the Project Advisory Group overseeing the National Demonstration Park for Modern Methods of Construction; the entities that have entered into Memoranda of Understanding governing the development of the Park; and whether those agreements will be published. [20400/26]

2269. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether a written risk assessment or project assurance review was undertaken prior to the decision to commence capital works on the National Demonstration Park for Modern Methods of Construction before the performance and evaluation framework had been finalised; and if so, whether he will publish or summaris…

2270. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total capital allocation approved to date for the National Demonstration Park for Modern Methods of Construction; the expenditure incurred to date; and the projected total cost of completion. [20402/26]

441. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department has any plans to develop a college (details supplied) [8913/26]

1194. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to provide financial supports for Irish students studying in the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8325/26]

1204. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the functions, staffing complement, and annual operating cost of the proposed National Skills Observatory; how it will operate within SOLAS; the nature of the labour-market intelligence and forecasting it will provide; and how its outputs will inform policy and funding decisions. [7638/26]

92. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps he is taking to address the long commute times for university students in Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6872/26]

119. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the mechanisms his Department have in place to identify skills gaps in job growth sectors, and the way in which it responds to them through further and higher education opportunities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6965/26]

120. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the current status of initiatives within his Department to support training, education, and research in modern methods of construction, including off-site and modular building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6758/26]

139. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the actions he is taking to ensure that every third level campus and coursework requirements are fully accessible for any student or staff member with a disability to prevent any barrier to education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5996/26]