265. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of applicants currently awaiting a Youthreach placement in County Kilkenny; the current capacity of Youthreach provision in the county; whether the Department is satisfied that existing provision is sufficient to meet demand; and if he will outline any plans to expand Youthreach capacity in…
Topics / Education and Training Provision
A subject heading for parliamentary questionsEducation and Training Provision
219 questions from 71 TDs, between 22 January 2025 and 21 October 2026.
219
questions
215 written, 4 oral
71
TDs have asked
10
parties and groups
Independents counted together
7
departments asked
Questions per month
The record holds no questions for August, when the Dáil does not sit.
Jan 2025Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions |
|---|---|
| January 2025 | 5 |
| February 2025 | 10 |
| March 2025 | 5 |
| April 2025 | 11 |
| May 2025 | 16 |
| June 2025 | 3 |
| July 2025 | 41 |
| August 2025 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 20 |
| October 2025 | 10 |
| November 2025 | 7 |
| December 2025 | 8 |
| January 2026 | 10 |
| February 2026 | 5 |
| March 2026 | 3 |
| April 2026 | 15 |
| May 2026 | 23 |
| June 2026 | 5 |
| July 2026 | 11 |
| August 2026 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 10 |
| October 2026 | 1 |
Who asks, by party
The party each TD belonged to on the day, in alphabetical order. Parties differ a lot in size, and members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them, so this shows who raised it, not how much a party cares about it.
The TDs who asked most
Members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them. Each question counts once.
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18
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10
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10
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9
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9
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8
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8
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7
Asked of
Debated under the same heading
Debates whose official heading is exactly these words.
The questions
923. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to report on a case (details supplied). [68735/26]
689. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his proposals in conjunction with the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, to support employers and workers through training, retraining and upskilling initiatives in response to the rapidly changing nature of work; the measures being considered to address skills shortages and future workforce …
690. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for a breakdown of the income and expenditure of the National Training Fund in 2025 [67020/26]
693. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if there is support with transport costs for a person starting out on a 1st year electrical apprenticeship. [67118/26]
1499. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason SOLAS was allowed to give exam papers to apprentices on modules that were not covered (details supplied). [64786/26]
1506. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the veterinary medicine course offered in Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences is equivalent in terms of qualification to the veterinary medicine course offered in UCD; and if not, the reason for this. [65438/26]
1508. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether education and training boards, micro-credential programmes, lifelong learning initiatives or other further education and training funding streams may be utilised to support the delivery of specialist programmes in areas such as apiculture and pollinator conservation; and if he will make a statement …
1509. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether his Department has assessed the impact of funding pressures within the higher education sector on the viability of specialist or niche programmes, particularly those relating to biodiversity, environmental sustainability and rural skills development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6…
1511. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the funding mechanisms that exist or are planned to support specialist educational programmes which contribute to national biodiversity, pollinator protection and environmental sustainability objectives, including programmes in apiculture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65478/26]
1512. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the suspension of the Diploma in Apiculture programme at the University of Galway; whether any engagement has taken place between his Department and the university regarding the future provision of apiculture education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65477…
1113. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Education and Youth each nationally available programme during 2026 through which students collect, geolocate, classify or analyse real-world scientific observations using smartphones, geographic information systems or other digital tools; for each programme, the provider, participating schools and students, funding, dataset or research output produced, teacher tra…
1132. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the criteria used by her Department to determine which higher education institutions are recognised and funded under Circular 0035/2025 for postgraduate diplomas in inclusive and special education; whether applications from additional institutions are considered; and if she will provide details of any review or expansion process currently underway…
1134. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has undertaken any analysis comparing the cost of the current eight-week block release model for funded postgraduate diplomas in special education with hybrid delivery models which do not require substitute teacher cover; and if she will provide the findings of any such analysis. [55056/26]
1161. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures being taken to strengthen digital literacy, AI awareness and misinformation education across primary and post-primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55466/26]
1188. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number and proportion of staff who have completed AI-related training programmes since January 2024; the levels of training, introductory or advanced use; to confirm the associated expenditure on each level of training provided, by her Department and public body; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55871/26]
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]
89. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress being made in expanding lifelong learning opportunities to support people in upskilling and reskilling throughout their working lives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50028/26]
90. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of training and education places available across further and higher education, apprenticeships and upskilling programmes aimed at developing the workforce required to deliver energy-efficient homes, including retrofitting, construction and related trades; and if he will make a statement on the mat…
93. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost to the State of training students in key public service professions such as nursing and teaching; and whether his Department has examined graduate emigration patterns in these sectors. [50258/26]
117. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures being taken or planned by his Department to increase the number of training places and pathways for individuals to gain the skills necessary to deliver energy-efficient homes, including in areas such as retrofitting, heat pump installation and sustainable construction; and if he will make a stat…
129. Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the supports available for individuals who wish to undertake further remote study in their field, in view of the fact that many may wish to specialise/retrain while maintaining their post in the West of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49867/26]
936. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide clarity on whether researchers seeking postdoctoral funding commencing in 2027 will have access to a nationally competitive fellowship scheme comparable to the current Government of Ireland postdoctoral fellowship programme; if not, how such funding will instead be allocated; and if he will make a …
949. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total amount collected by the National Training Fund year on year from 2020 onwards; and the total spent each year, in tabular form. [49854/26]
1039. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of students enrolled in FET courses in each of the past five years; and if his Department supports the admissions policy of some FET courses that only accepts students over 23 years with a leaving certificate qualification. [45292/26]