Said and Done

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. Donna McGettigan
    50
  2. Maeve O'Connell
    40
  3. Brendan Smith
    17
  4. Jen Cummins
    15
  5. Grace Boland
    13
  6. Barry Heneghan
    12
  7. Richard Boyd Barrett
    12
  8. Malcolm Byrne
    11

Asked of

Debated under the same heading

Debates whose official heading is exactly these words.

The questions

Shane Moynihan Written 29 Jan 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
136. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is following developments to bring diverse further education and training streams together under a single brand such as the Dublin college initiative being led by DDLETB; whether he is encouraging other education and training boards to take a similar approach in order to strengthen their further and …
Grace Boland Written 29 Jan 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
144. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps being taken to accelerate delivery of new FET infrastructure, given the growing demand for apprenticeships and upskilling opportunities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6866/26]
Matt Carthy Written 29 Jan 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
149. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department has carried out any analysis of university courses in which maximum leaving certificate points did not guarantee admission due to demand; if he will list the courses where this applied, alongside the number of places available through the CAO for these courses and the number of places availa…
Barry Heneghan Written 29 Jan 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
153. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the actions he is taking to expand access to further and higher education for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, including those with disabilities and caring responsibilities; whether he is satisfied that current supports are sufficient to meet rising demand; and if he will make a statement on the ma…
Joanna Byrne Written 29 Jan 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
155. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if an institute of further education or any other educational campus outside Dundalk in County Louth is being considered as satellites, or linked in any way with (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6396/26]
John Connolly Written 29 Jan 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
161. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on the development of a new Galway college of further education by Galway Roscommon Education and Training Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6869/26]
James O'Connor Written 29 Jan 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
165. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update on the work that Irish institutes are involved in with CERN. [7010/26]
John Paul O'Shea Written 29 Jan 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
168. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to outline the broad services provided in Macroom FET Centre; the number of attendees for each of the years 2023-2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6776/26]
William Aird Written 27 Jan 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
1168. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the concrete steps being taken to ensure equity of access in further and higher education, including support for students with disabilities, care leavers, and low-income backgrounds; the way progress will be measured and reported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6244/26]
Brendan Smith Written 21 Jan 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
332. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if measures will be introduced to ensure the availability of more places for Irish students in dental schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4518/26]
Jen Cummins Written 20 Jan 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
1072. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide a detailed breakdown of how the €4.55 billion investment in research and innovation will be spent year-by-year; how progress will be measured; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3718/26]
Donna McGettigan Written 13 Jan 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
2614. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department can address the serious issue of long-term (CID) contract holders at FET institutes (details supplied) who are not getting the requested additional hours they are entitled to, before new appointments are advertised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1866/26]
Malcolm Byrne Written 18 Dec 2025 · to Further and Higher Education
777. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on the decision to place adult education tutors on the Youthreach resource person incremental payscale; the number of persons impacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73349/25]
Malcolm Byrne Written 18 Dec 2025 · to Further and Higher Education
778. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to clarify on contracts of employment for coordinators and resource persons in Youthreach as to what is meant by “closures” with regard to provisions for “Hours of Attendance” and “Annual Leave”; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73350/25]
Seán Ó Fearghaíl Written 18 Dec 2025 · to Further and Higher Education
779. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures taken to support the higher education sector during 2025; his priorities for 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73564/25]
Seán Ó Fearghaíl Written 18 Dec 2025 · to Further and Higher Education
780. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures taken to support the further education sector during 2025; his priorities for 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73565/25]
Seán Ó Fearghaíl Written 18 Dec 2025 · to Further and Higher Education
781. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures taken to support and expand student accommodation during 2025; his priorities for 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73566/25]
Seán Ó Fearghaíl Written 18 Dec 2025 · to Further and Higher Education
782. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures taken to enhance and expand apprenticeships during 2025; his priorities for 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73567/25]
Seán Ó Fearghaíl Written 18 Dec 2025 · to Further and Higher Education
783. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures taken to boost Ireland’s research capacity during 2025; his priorities for 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73568/25]
Seán Ó Fearghaíl Written 18 Dec 2025 · to Further and Higher Education
784. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures taken to make higher education more affordable during 2025; his priorities for 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73569/25]
Brendan Smith Written 18 Dec 2025 · to Further and Higher Education
785. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the proposals there are to increase the availability of places in further and higher education to provide training and skills for people in cybersecurity for both the private and public sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73594/25]
Donna McGettigan Written 18 Dec 2025 · to Further and Higher Education
786. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason ETB tutors have been told they cannot work more than 20 hours per week (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73608/25]
Alan Kelly Written 18 Dec 2025 · to Further and Higher Education
787. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of meetings that have taken place between the Higher Education Authority and University College Cork (UCC) subsequent to the submission by UCC of its report of a matter under Section 64 of the Higher Education Authority Act 2022; if the Higher Education Authority is still monitoring UCC; and if any …
Alan Kelly Written 18 Dec 2025 · to Further and Higher Education
788. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the current status of a €50 million loan provided by the European Investment Bank (EIB) to University College Cork for the development of a new business school; whether his Department or the Higher Education Authority has received correspondence from the EIB regarding the loan; the amount of the loan drawn dow…
John Connolly Written 18 Dec 2025 · to Further and Higher Education
789. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department funds drug addiction prevention initiatives in further and higher education institutes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73685/25]