204. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way in which his Department is positioning Ireland’s education, research and skills system as the “economic Ministry” he often refers to and to that end driving national competitiveness, productivity and long-term prosperity. [67812/25]
Topics / Further and Higher Education
A subject heading for parliamentary questionsFurther 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
| Month | Questions |
|---|---|
| January 2025 | 1 |
| February 2025 | 4 |
| March 2025 | 48 |
| April 2025 | 11 |
| May 2025 | 75 |
| June 2025 | 15 |
| July 2025 | 54 |
| August 2025 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 11 |
| October 2025 | 19 |
| November 2025 | 8 |
| December 2025 | 32 |
| January 2026 | 20 |
| February 2026 | 13 |
| March 2026 | 8 |
| April 2026 | 22 |
| May 2026 | 17 |
| June 2026 | 14 |
| July 2026 | 24 |
| August 2026 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 14 |
| October 2026 | 5 |
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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50
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40
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17
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15
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13
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12
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12
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11
Asked of
Debated under the same heading
Debates whose official heading is exactly these words.
The questions
206. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps his Department is taking to ensure that the link between industry and the education and training sector is supported in order to facilitate the workforce in adapting to the changing needs of the economy. [67600/25]
217. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the actions being taken to strengthen mental health supports in higher education institutions, given the increasing demand for counselling services and the implementation of the National Student Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Framework; and if he will provide details of funding allocations and timeline…
219. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress made on the provision of the personal assistants initiative for persons with a disability in third level institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67834/25]
220. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way in which recent budget reforms to student supports, including the SUSI system and cost-of-education measures, reflect his approach to targeted support for learners from all backgrounds. [67827/25]
226. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to detail the planned operation of the new veterinary colleges, and what it will mean for Irish students and for regional growth and activity. [67771/25]
228. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the funding available to his Department in 2026 for capital development in the further education sector; the projects that will progress in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67811/25]
229. 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. [67802/25]
231. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a college (details supplied) will be considered eligible for capital investment support; if his Department has examined options to align the college with an appropriate public body or higher education institution in order that it may access such funding; if he will consider facilitating access to capital i…
240. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on a new building for Dunboyne College of Further Education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67258/25]
252. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on plans to expand further education and training provision in Macroom, particularly in light of the town’s growth following the bypass; if his Department will prioritise new courses and facilities to support local employment and enterprise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6…
259. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to report on the retrofitting of the FET sector; to provide the breakdown of the €8 million allocation that was recently announced that has been awarded; the amount that has been drawn down; the number of projects this will fund; the average value of each award; the targets including the number of retrofits compl…
260. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way in which his Development of the Swords FET College fit into his Department’s wider strategy for the FET College of the Future initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67801/25]
261. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the criteria that will be used to prioritise institutions for capital investment under the national training fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67835/25]
198. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth her views on whether migrants and refugees will be discouraged from accessing education, training and upskilling supports that require people to be in receipt of a social welfare payment in light of proposals from the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to penalise migrants and refugees who rely on essential social welfare supports such …
367. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the mechanisms for students who are taking the Baccalaureate in Ireland to access the CAO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70462/25]
370. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to ensure that tutors who are long-term employed in Further education (details supplied) and who hold existing contracts of indefinite duration are offered additional hours before new appointments are given; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70567/25]
545. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if students attending private tutorial colleges (details supplied) are eligible to apply for SUSI grants; the criteria governing eligibility for students enrolled in such institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68926/25]
700. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures being taken to improve access to higher education for students in north and mid-Cork; and if he will consider increased supports for rural students. [67285/25]
598. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the position regarding the development of the new Galway college of further education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67101/25]
376. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider measures to improve the parity of esteem for FET level education; if it is possible to introduce higher levels of qualifications, for example level 7, in apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64048/25]
1164. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason in technological universities (TUs) there are no grades for professors; if there are plans to introduce a new grade; if so, when given it will help with inequalities between TUs and universities in this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62728/25]
1166. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason a TU postgraduate gets €10,000 less than other postgraduates; if there is funding for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62806/25]
1129. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider making provision for the establishment of a third level course for early years education through the medium of Irish in a Gaeltacht service town to ensure an adequate supply of professionals in the naíonra sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61115/25]
202. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for a list of the community training centres, colleges of further education and Youthreach centres in Dublin south central. [60211/25]