Parliamentary questions

925. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress that has been made in placing ETB employees who accepted adult educator contracts on the correct point of the adult educator salary scale; the timeline for the payment of all outstanding salary arrears due to those employees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. […

926. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the range of further education and training opportunities available to young persons on leaving school, including leaving school early, in the areas of Gorey and Courtown/Riverchapel, County Wexford. [53233/26]

927. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the range of further education and training opportunities available to young persons on leaving school, including leaving school early, in Arklow, County Wicklow. [53234/26]

928. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide a summary on the skills gaps identified in the construction sector; and the number of new construction workers needed to meet housing, social housing and infrastructure targets, by category of construction worker, in tabular form. [53381/26]

929. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the details of any costs modelled by his Department for the training of new construction workers, including costs currently borne by the trainee themselves, the State, and any employer or sponsor; the breakdown of the approximate full-year cost of training in construction occupati…

930. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated unit cost of training new construction workers, broken down by category of construction worker, in the event all training costs were taken on by the State. [53383/26]

931. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide details of all grant schemes currently available through his Department for which individuals or community groups are eligible to apply; the purpose of each grant scheme; the eligibility criteria; the application process; the opening and closing dates for application; and if he wi…

932. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to review the case of a person (details supplied); if he will provide an update on the SUSI application in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53446/26]

933. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures taken to support the higher education sector since January 2025; his priorities for same for the rest of 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53481/26]

934. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures taken to support the further education sector since January 2025; his priorities for same for the rest of 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53482/26]

935. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures taken to support and expand student accommodation since January 2025; his priorities for same for the rest of 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53483/26]

936. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures taken to enhance and expand apprenticeships since January 2025; his priorities for same for the rest of 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53484/26]

937. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures taken to boost Ireland's research capacity since January 2025; his priorities for same for the rest of 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53485/26]

938. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures taken to make higher education more affordable since January 2025; his priorities for same for the rest of 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53486/26]

939. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to comment on the HEA's 2026 budget & accountability report for higher education institutions, and in particular in relation to the reference to institutions reporting significantly heightened financial fragility (details supplied). [53568/26]

940. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his view on the sustainability of the HEIs to have borrowing levels in excess of €1.2bn in September 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53569/26]

941. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to ensure that HEI's are adequately funded, on an annual basis, to cover nationally agreed pay awards, both currently and legacy pay awards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53570/26]

942. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide guidance regarding a query in relation to reimbursement of course fees from a language school (details supplied). [53624/26]

943. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the position regarding a CAO application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53654/26]

944. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if a €3,000 annual grant will be available to fund the 500 active men's sheds; if this grant will be included in Budget 2027 and each budget thereafter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53662/26]

945. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to provide an annual grant to (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53663/26]

946. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht his plans to address the salaries of community workers and volunteers; if he is aware they do not currently earn a living wage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53637/26]

947. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the mechanisms his Department is utilising to develop robust rural intelligence that will be made available to other Departments to help tailor national policies to rural realities. [52687/26]

948. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if there is a specific policy within his Department that seeks to preclude those elected to local authorities from any boards that he may appoint; the rationale behind any such policy; the way in which it aligns with encouraging participation in local government; and if he will make a statement on th…

949. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to commit to preparing legislation to not automatically exclude members of local authorities from consideration for appointment to State boards; and to set out the reasons such persons would be excluded. [52879/26]