220. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the position regarding the engagement there has been with his Department, Dundalk IT and Queen’s University Belfast in relation to their partnership to create Dundalk university college; the work being carried out by his Department to resolve cross-Border further and higher education issues and the anomal…
Topics / Third Level Education
A subject heading for parliamentary questionsThird Level Education
188 questions from 65 TDs, between 22 January 2025 and 20 October 2026.
188
questions
171 written, 17 oral
65
TDs have asked
10
parties and groups
Independents counted together
5
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 | 4 |
| February 2025 | 10 |
| March 2025 | 3 |
| April 2025 | 10 |
| May 2025 | 35 |
| June 2025 | 3 |
| July 2025 | 5 |
| August 2025 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 2 |
| October 2025 | 0 |
| November 2025 | 11 |
| December 2025 | 15 |
| January 2026 | 24 |
| February 2026 | 1 |
| March 2026 | 8 |
| April 2026 | 7 |
| May 2026 | 13 |
| June 2026 | 17 |
| July 2026 | 11 |
| August 2026 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 3 |
| October 2026 | 6 |
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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19
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16
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11
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9
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7
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7
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6
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6
Asked of
Debated under the same heading
Debates whose official heading is exactly these words.
The questions
241. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the level of demand for specific courses particularly in health services, inclusive of medicine, nursing and dentistry; the number of applicants who apply for a particular course that will be granted a place on the course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22015/26]
267. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the necessary funding will be provided to the dental school in UCC who have submitted proposed to the Department for the expansion of their training programme, which would involve the development of a new hub in which additional students could be trained and practice; and if he will make a statement on the …
268. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the plans to introduce a third level course for childcare taught through the medium of Irish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29028/26]
905. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to encourage greater participation by Japanese students in third level institutions and continuing educational opportunities in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28062/26]
3444. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the percentage of GDP for public spending on research and higher education. [24198/26]
3460. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether he is aware that Research Ireland are currently planning to cease their Government of Ireland postgraduate and postdoctoral fellowship programmes, and will thus no longer be directly funding PhD candidates and postdoctoral fellows under this system, which will have knock-on effects on the sa…
458. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on the recognition of the National College of Ireland and its opportunities to be able to apply for State funding. [23013/26]
1037. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures he will take to ensure there are no job losses in Trinity College Dublin's CRANN and AMBER centres due to non-renewal of funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21378/26]
2234. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to clarify the future plans for the general arts courses in University of Galway; the meaning of “reimagining” courses; whether any reduction in courses or places is envisaged; if he will instruct the university to engage with students and their unions before decisions are made; when any changes will be…
2246. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department has received any communication from organisations (details supplied) regarding the specific building conditions reported on 25 February 2026; his views on reports that students and staff at the Waterford campuses are working in environments with black mould, bracket fungus, and a recor…
2255. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to consider the creation of an academy for the fine arts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19588/26]
603. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the percentage of those studying medicine in higher education institutions in the State at present and in each of the past five years who are non-EU students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18058/26]
605. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps being taken to streamline assessment processes, given the growing number of tertiary agreements being further education and training institutes and universities put in place through the Tertiary Office, to allow colleges and universities to observe the quality of the work being submitted; and if …
987. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has taken any actions in response to the repeated call in August 2025 by an organisation (details supplied) for a cap on the number of international students studying dentistry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17010/26]
1211. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the work underway to support third level institutions to actively support students to develop digital and AI skills to better equip the workforce of future. [8249/26]
86. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will review the means test for SUSI grants for households impacted by the defective concrete crisis, in order that essential outgoings such as mortgages and rent are taken into consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7279/26]
100. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the level of communication between his Department and third level educators with industries to ensure that courses stay relevant and topical to the job market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6966/26]
101. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to confirm that the necessary finance will be provided to Cork Dental Hospital to enable it to open a community-based outreach dental centre in Cork city, in accordance with the proposals already submitted to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6895/26]
102. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the new veterinary colleges will have a particular focus on farm animals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6991/26]
103. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department has carried out any recent assessment of the way rising living costs, including food, transport and accommodation, are impacting student access, retention and completion rates across the higher education sector; if he will publish the findings; and if he will make a statement on the matter.…
104. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to confirm the work he and his Department have undertaken to ensure greater cooperation, engagement and links between universities and third level institutions in the Republic of Ireland and in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6896/26]
141. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on the progress of the merger of Dundalk Institute of Technology and Queen’s University of Belfast. [6777/26]
159. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether he has met with UCC to discuss the business school plans for a site (details supplied) in Cork. [6191/26]
162. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update on the engagement there has been between his Department, Dundalk IT and Queen’s University Belfast about their partnership to create Dundalk University College; when the necessary legislation will be drafted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6875/26]