Further and Higher Education

193. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures he is taking to align higher education course provision in Cork with the needs of the IDA and Enterprise Ireland-backed employers located in the Cork region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34331/26]

209. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if there are any planned large-scale investments in higher education infrastructure at Maynooth University; the predicted benefits of this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34851/26]

211. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on the merits of requiring all third level institutions to install solar panel installations to support the operation of the institution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34392/26]

215. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will outline the projects in the Further and Higher Education Sector that will progress under his Department's Capital Programme in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34849/26]

1277. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will outline the roll that the Grangegorman Development Agency will undertake in developing capital projects in the Further Education Sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34839/26]

470. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will clarify whether SOLAS plans to increase the duration of machinery-related training courses; if so, the assessment that has been made of the impact on employers who must release and pay staff while attending such training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31779/2…

224. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to outline what the fund for students with disabilities covers; the amount that is allocated to each category across all FETs; the amount that is allocated to transport across all FETs, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21799/26]

231. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures being taken to address projected construction-sector labour shortages over the coming years, in order to ensure that national housing and infrastructure delivery targets remain achievable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17540/26]

235. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to consider introducing additional educational supports for learners with special educational needs within Youthreach; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22076/26]

237. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the engagement that has taken place between his Department and the Department of Health regarding workforce planning for speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and physiotherapy; whether projected higher education training places are aligned with workforce demand identified by …

242. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update on the next phase of the development of the College of the Future project at a location (details supplied) which was given the green light in October 2024, in particular a timeline; the expected impact of this pioneering co-located campus for both further an…

255. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to restore funding for the postgraduate and graduate scholarship scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29176/26]

257. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the timeline for the establishment of the National Skills Observatory committed to in the National Digital and AI Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22069/26]

260. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the projected number of additional training places planned between 2026 and 2027 and 2027 and 2028 for speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and physiotherapy programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21731/26]

269. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the position regarding his plans to bring Marino Institute of Education under the remit of his Department rather than the Department of education; the timeline envisaged for any such change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22066/26]

270. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount of funding allocated to each institution as part of the Fund for Students with Disabilities in each of the years 2014 to 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21800/26]

273. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to his comments (details supplied) in relation to courses where there would be two students present and a class of 100 on the roll and his comments that some English language schools are acting as tick box exercise to allow people to get work permits; the actions he is taking to en…

280. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to reinstate and develop in-person courses on the Clermont Campus in Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22111/26]

906. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans for capital investment in further education facilities in Leitrim over the next two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28063/26]

909. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the assessment that has been carried out on the likely impact of ending the Postgraduate Scholarship Programme on PhD stipend levels across higher education institutions; and whether he is concerned that the removal of this benchmark may lead to downward pressure on PhD stipends. [28090/26…

910. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has considered the impact of the proposed funding changes on the working conditions and employment status of PhD researchers; and his plans to introduce employment rights or worker status for PhD candidates. [28091/26]

911. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of the 2023 review recommendation to increase PhD stipends to €25,000; and the way in which this recommendation will be upheld in the absence of the existing scholarship programme. [28092/26]

912. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to introduce additional financial supports for students receiving the SUSI maintenance grant due to the increase in fuel costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28248/26]

914. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the supports that are available to third level students who are attending private colleges and will there be an expansion to those supports. [28547/26]

228. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the support that is available to barbers to access continuous professional development and upskilling; and whether incentives will be introduced to encourage participation in accredited training programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27391/26]