Parliamentary questions

535. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether Ukrainian students under temporary protection will be treated as EU or non-EU students for college places, fees and grants in the 2026/27 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46476/26]

536. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the rationale for the recent cancellation of Research Ireland doctoral and postdoctoral scholarship funding for future years; the measures being put in place to support PhD students who had intended to rely on such funding after commencing their studies; whether transitional arrangements…

537. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps being taken to ensure that early-stage researchers are not placed in financially precarious positions as a result of changes to postgraduate funding policy; the extent to which alternative supports or funding streams will be made available (details supplied); and if he will mak…

538. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to ensure equitable allocation of research funding across all disciplines, including humanities and social sciences, in view of concerns that recent policy changes may disproportionately favour STEM fields (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4642…

539. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether Ukrainian students who have completed Leaving Certificate or QQI/PLC courses in Ireland will be eligible for SUSI or other supports for third-level study in 2026/27; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46477/26]

540. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to support a technology conference (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46556/26]

541. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the first year and full year cost of hiring a full-time teacher for every local authority area to provide Irish classes free of charge to adults based on an academic year starting in September for education and training boards; the annual expenditure specifically on Irish medium high…

542. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the buildings and lands associated with St. Patrick's Carlow College have been valued; and if so, the estimated value. [46729/26]

543. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the plans that are in place in his Department to improve the funding and resourcing of community centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46268/26]

544. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the reason an organisation was excluded from funding in May 2026 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46450/26]

545. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if the target timelines for communicating decisions under the 2026-2029 scheme to support national organisations were met; if not, the reasons for the delay; the measures that will be taken to ensure that future funding decisions are communicated sufficiently in advance of funding commencement dates t…

546. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the progress that has been made in relation to the setting up of a pilot scheme in south Kerry to address depopulation and the amalgamation of clubs (details supplied) not just in Kerry but throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46550/26]

547. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to give a detailed progress report in regard to the Killorglin RRDF scheme; the reason for the delay on works to old Killorglin Courthouse (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46567/26]

548. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the grant schemes or financial supports currently available to businesses who wish to erect or replace external signage using the Irish language; whether supports exist to encourage businesses outside Gaeltacht areas to promote the visibility of the Irish language through shopfront signage; the crit…

549. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the annual capital expenditure for each of the past ten years on Irish language centres or centres (details supplied); and the estimated cost of recruiting an additional full-time language planning officer for every Gaeltacht language planning area, for every Irish language network, and for every…

550. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the total number of children between ages three and 18 living in the Gaeltacht who speak Irish daily outside the education system, who attend an Irish medium school, or who are being raised through Irish. [46649/26]

551. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the total number of children for whom payments under the Irish speakers scheme were made each year for the last ten years of its existence. [46650/26]

552. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the rate paid under the Irish learners scheme per child for Gaeltacht host families/mná tí in each of the past ten years; and the number of recipients each year, in tabular form. [46651/26]

553. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the number of students receiving scholarships to attend a Gaeltacht summer college at each rate of partial and full scholarship; the associated cost in each of the past ten years; and the estimated cost of increasing the full scholarship rate to match the average fee for attending a course at col…

554. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the estimated cost of doubling the funding provided through Foras na Gaeilge to the Irish language network development scheme, including the specific funding increase that would be required from the administrations in Dublin and at Stormont. [46653/26]

555. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the estimated cost of increasing the funding allocation for the lead organisations funded by Foras na Gaeilge by 50%, including the specific funding increase that would be required from the administrations in Dublin and at Stormont. [46654/26]

556. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the estimated cost of restoring the Irish Language Books Programme to the level of funding it had in 2008; the cost of increasing to that level adjusted for inflation since 2008; and the total annual expenditure on the Irish Language Books Programme each year since 2008. [46655/26]

557. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the estimated cost of recruiting a full-time language planning officer for each local authority area in the State. [46656/26]

1. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade her Department's position on the accession of Armenia to the European Union following recent national elections; the way in which she will work to advance Armenia's accession during the EU Presidency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46052/26]

2. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of Irish citizens who have sought assistance from the Irish Embassy in New Zealand in each of the years 2023 to 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form. [46067/26]