Questions

883. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of students from County Cork in receipt of SUSI maintenance grants in the 2025-2026 academic years; the average processing time for applications; the measures being taken to ensure timely grant payments to students at the beginning of the academic year; and if he will make a statement on the m…

884. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of apprenticeship registrations in County Cork in each of the past three years, broken down by apprenticeship programme; the steps being taken to expand apprenticeship opportunities in Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51105/26]

885. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the proportion of the National Training Fund that is used toward AI upskilling; the plans to further engage in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51186/26]

886. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the extent to which quantum computing is being integrated into Irish higher education and research; the measures to improve quantum literacy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51187/26]

887. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated full-year cost of doubling maintenance grants and restoring the grant adjacency rate to 24 km; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51351/26]

888. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated total student contributions paid by all higher education students in 2024 and 2025; the expected contributions in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51352/26]

889. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated full-year cost of ensuring all postgraduate research students receive a full-year €30,000 stipend; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51353/26]

890. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware that an English language school (details supplied) has closed down recently; the action that can be taken to prevent these sudden closures of schools; and if he is aware if the school had learner protection insurance in place. [51412/26]

891. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason an applicant (details supplied) was deemed ineligible for DARE on the basis of not having a diagnosis of dyslexia and therefore, not meeting the “evidence of disability criteria” specifically stated as “dyslexia/significant literacy difficulties, when the application included at least two refere…

892. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide the web link to his Department’s Q2 2026 published report of purchase orders/payments over €20,000, in line with the FOI model publication scheme requirements; to confirm the date on which this report was published; and, if it has not yet been published, the planned publication date. [51565/26]

893. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason a person (details supplied) has been refused the SUSI grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51627/26]

894. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether he will consider taking mortgage or rental outgoings into account when calculating eligibility for SUSI payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51640/26]

895. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to list each funding instrument, PhD programme, fellowship, award, public engagement programme or research infrastructure programme under his Department or Research Ireland, that has supported citizen science, citizen-generated data, public participation in data collection, or open-source research infras…

896. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the options available to a person (details supplied) to allow them to complete their education course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51667/26]

897. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 966 of 17 June 2025, the reason only 30 of the 45 SALI posts have been funded (details supplied); the steps his Department is taking to ensure that they are continued; the way in which the level of support provided to them will be monitored during and after the ten y…

898. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the 2025 and 2026 Capital Budget Allocation for SOLAS, in tabular form. [51712/26]

899. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when he last visited Letterkenny Atlantic Technological University; and the purpose of the visit. [51713/26]

900. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 434 of 19 June 2025, if he will provide an update on the proposed Strategic Infrastructure Upgrade Fund (SIUF) project; whether the Stage 1 Report submitted by the ETB design team and reviewed by SOLAS has now been approved by his Department; whether the project has …

901. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total cost of engagement with a company (details supplied) in each of the years 2020 to 2025, across his Department, by project, year and value; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51768/26]

902. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total cost of engagement with a company (details supplied) in each of the years 2020 to 2025, across his Department, by project, year and value; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51786/26]

903. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total cost of engagement with a company (details supplied) in each of the years 2020 to 2025, across his Department, by project, year and value; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51804/26]

904. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the main policy achievements of his Department since 22 January 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50808/26]

905. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the funding available and the supports provided by his Department to ensure that rural villages and communities retain their social hubs such as shops and pubs; if any supports are available for rural villages and communities who have lost their shop and pubs to have those social hubs restored; and if he will make a sta…

906. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht whether footpath construction and footpath improvement works are eligible for funding under the CLÁR programme; if he will provide details of changes made to eligibility criteria in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51165/26]

907. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht whether consideration has been given to reintroducing support for footpath infrastructure under the CLÁR programme, particularly in rural villages and settlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51166/26]