Topics / Further and Higher Education

A subject heading for parliamentary questions

Further and Higher Education

415 questions from 87 TDs, between 22 January 2025 and 6 October 2026.

415
questions
398 written, 17 oral
87
TDs have asked
9
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
MonthQuestions
January 20251
February 20254
March 202548
April 202511
May 202575
June 202515
July 202554
August 20250
September 202511
October 202519
November 20258
December 202532
January 202620
February 202613
March 20268
April 202622
May 202617
June 202614
July 202624
August 20260
September 202614
October 20265

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.

  • Aontú8 from 2 TDs · 2 seats today
  • Fianna Fáil92 from 21 TDs · 48 seats today
  • Fine Gael115 from 20 TDs · 38 seats today
  • Green Party3 from 1 TD · 1 seat today
  • Independent29 from 8 TDs · 15 seats today
  • Labour Party18 from 7 TDs · 11 seats today
  • People Before Profit-Solidarity17 from 3 TDs · 3 seats today
  • Sinn Féin107 from 19 TDs · 39 seats today

The TDs who asked most

Members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them. Each question counts once.

  1. 50
  2. 40
  3. 17
  4. 15
  5. 13
  6. 12
  7. 12
  8. 11

The questions

Darren O'Rourke Written 23 Apr 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
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]
Naoise Ó Cearúil Written 23 Apr 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
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]
Ryan O'Meara Written 23 Apr 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
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]
Grace Boland Written 23 Apr 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
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 the Health Service E…
Michael Murphy Written 23 Apr 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
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 and higher education o…
Richard Boyd Barrett Oral 23 Apr 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
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]
James Geoghegan Written 23 Apr 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
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]
Grace Boland Written 23 Apr 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
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]
Shane Moynihan Oral 23 Apr 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
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]
Darren O'Rourke Written 23 Apr 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
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]
Matt Carthy Written 23 Apr 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
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 ensure enforcement of …
Edward Timmins Written 23 Apr 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
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]
Donna McGettigan Written 21 Apr 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
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]
Jen Cummins Written 21 Apr 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
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]
Jen Cummins Written 21 Apr 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
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]
Jen Cummins Written 21 Apr 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
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]
Donna McGettigan Written 21 Apr 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
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]
Paul Murphy Written 21 Apr 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
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]
Robert O'Donoghue Written 15 Apr 2026 · to Enterprise
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]
Claire Kerrane Written 15 Apr 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
381. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason cuts have been made by an organisation (details supplied) impacting learners at another organisation; if he will examine this and reverse these cuts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27485/26]
John Connolly Written 15 Apr 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
382. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason for recent reductions in SOLAS funding allocations to education and training boards, including GRETB; the extent to which these reductions have resulted in the cancellation of adult literacy, disability support and ESOL programmes (details supplied); the assessment that has been made of the impac…
Donna McGettigan Written 24 Mar 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
1038. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science how often structural inspections take place in HEIs; how often furniture and fittings are inspected; the number of maintenance works that have been carried out each year between 2020 and 2026, in tabular form; who receives reports of inspections and ensures they are rectified; and if he will make a stat…
Conor D McGuinness Written 24 Mar 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
1059. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the extent of further and higher education and research links between Ireland and Japan; and the way in which those links will be further enhanced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22288/26]
Catherine Callaghan Oral 5 Mar 2026 · to Housing
157. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the development of the national centre of excellence for traditional skills; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16774/26]
Barry Ward Written 4 Mar 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
352. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to delays in processing and reporting of exam results in a third level university (details supplied); if he will engage with senior management to expedite this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17333/26]