Parliamentary questions

Student Visas

Gary Gannon

4. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware of the lack of eligibility to access student grants for persons who hold stamp 4 visas; and, if so, if he and his Department are evaluating expanding the criteria. [23525/24]

Student Accommodation

Mairéad Farrell

5. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has any plans as regards the area of student digs regulation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23474/24]

Education Costs

Richard Boyd Barrett

6. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is considering further funding to abolish higher education tuition fees and move to a fully free public education system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19521/24]

Further and Higher Education

Brendan Smith

7. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the major capital projects that will be progressed this year in the further education sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23273/24]

Artificial Intelligence

Richard Bruton

8. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has assessed the potential impact of artificial intelligence on the content of the jobs of those currently in the workforce, and the reskilling that may be necessary to ensure the capacity of workers to adapt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23310/24]

Third Level Education

Thomas Gould

9. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware that PLC graduates looking to progress to a relevant third-level course are included in a lottery for limited places, regardless of grades or previous attempts to enter third level. [23338/24]

Further and Higher Education

Niamh Smyth

10. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on the funding allocation to date and timeframe for the development of Cavan Institute as a hub for further education and training. [22976/24]

Student Accommodation

Marian Harkin

11. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures he is putting in place to alleviate the student accommodation crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23173/24]

Third Level Education

Pádraig O'Sullivan

12. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the engagement his Department has had with the Higher Education Authority regarding financial deficits at universities in Ireland; his views on whether there should be greater transparency between the Higher Education Authority and other third level institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19706/24]

Further and Higher Education

David Stanton

13. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to further expand and develop further education courses for people with disabilities and those seeking to avail of second-chance education and training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23290/24]

Nursing Education

Rose Conway-Walsh

14. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of additional places that have been added to nursing and medicine since 2020 for Irish and EU students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23293/24]

Student Accommodation

Brian Stanley

15. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total available student accommodation in or adjacent to schools or colleges; to detail the projected student accommodation shortfall for the coming academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22904/24]

Dental Services

David Stanton

16. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department is proposing the provision of a new University College Cork dental school and hospital facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23271/24]

Further and Higher Education

Pádraig O'Sullivan

17. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on his plans to enhance disability supports for students in higher education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19707/24]

Further and Higher Education

Ruairí Ó Murchú

18. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of the review of disability supports for students at further and higher education centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23180/24]

Third Level Education

Seán Canney

19. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when a decision will be made on the selection of the two locations for the new veterinary schools it is proposed to establish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23174/24]

Student Accommodation

Brian Stanley

20. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide details on new builds for student accommodation, the number of units, and the timeline for their completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22905/24]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Richard Bruton

21. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to indicate the growth of take-up by the public service and by the multinational sector of the new model of apprenticeships; if he considers that new initiatives are necessary to promote them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23314/24]

Third Level Education

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

22. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to make a statement on the curtailment and punishment of student protests in Trinity College Dublin. [23133/24]

Education Policy

Darren O'Rourke

23. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on the labour constraints identified in various reports (details supplied) that Ireland faces in order to meet our 2030 targets; the measures being taken by his Department to address those labour constraints; the measures being taken to equip the labour force with the necessary skills to reach our 2030 targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23269/24]

Student Accommodation

Niamh Smyth

24. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures he and his Department are taking to support students who are being asked to pay for accommodation for 52 weeks of the year, despite only being in college for nine months of the year (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22977/24]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Rose Conway-Walsh

25. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total number of new apprentice registrations in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23292/24]

Middle East

Matt Carthy

26. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has engaged with the European Commission seeking a suspension of Israel’s participation in Horizon Europe. [23274/24]

Student Accommodation

Robert Troy

27. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he plans to enable technological universities to borrow for the purpose of providing student accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23177/24]

Third Level Education

Cathal Crowe

28. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of the progression of plans for a new veterinary school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23041/24]

Further and Higher Education

Brendan Griffin

29. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the current position regarding the development of the old Pretty Polly facility in Killarney as a new training centre of excellence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23281/24]

Technological Universities

Cathal Crowe

30. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of plans to open new campus facilities for the Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest at Coonagh, Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23042/24]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Thomas Gould

31. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware of delays in apprenticeship completion in Cork; and how he plans to resolve this. [23337/24]

Further and Higher Education

Matt Carthy

32. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to develop and support further and higher education in County Monaghan. [23275/24]

Third Level Education

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

33. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to make a statement on student protests and higher education institutions and their financial ties and investments in Israeli companies. [23134/24]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Pauline Tully

34. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has plans to increase the funding for apprenticeships that are offered by education and training boards and technological universities to meet future training requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23287/24]

Grant Payments

Robert Troy

35. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he intends to review SUSI income thresholds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23178/24]

Student Accommodation

Seán Canney

36. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science what funding is in place and available to the Atlantic Technological University to acquire student accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23175/24]

Climate Action Plan

Darren O'Rourke

37. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to report on progress on the actions on which his Department is leading in the 2024 climate action plan annexe of actions; if these actions are proceeding on time; to report on work to develop a framework to oversee emerging skills requirements for e-mobility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23270/24]

Grant Payments

Brendan Griffin

38. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his priorities for further SUSI reform in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23282/24]

Student Accommodation

Catherine Connolly

39. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 50 of 27 February 2024, for an update on the plans to provide additional student accommodation units for students at the University of Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23053/24]

Further and Higher Education

Brendan Smith

40. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when the proposed building project at Cavan Institute will proceed to the next stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23272/24]

Student Accommodation

Alan Farrell

41. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on efforts to increase the supply of student accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22757/24]

Public Sector Staff

Ruairí Ó Murchú

42. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress made to resolve the terms and conditions of employment of personal assistants who work in some education and training boards; the timeline for when the issue is expected to be resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23179/24]

Student Accommodation

Bernard Durkan

43. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the extent to which provision is being made or will be made to meet the full requirement of student accommodation adjacent to schools or colleges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23226/24]

Education Policy

Bernard Durkan

44. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the extent to which a continuous supply of graduates in the academic and technical areas is provided for in order to meet requirements of industry and education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23227/24]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Alan Farrell

45. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on efforts to increase the number of apprenticeship spaces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22756/24]

Technological Universities

Seán Canney

46. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when the STEM building planned for the Galway campus of Atlantic Technological University will be proceeding to construction; the timeline for the completion of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23176/24]

Grant Payments

Pauline Tully

47. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider altering the residency rule for the student grant scheme to enable a person to qualify for the grant is they can show that they have been resident in the State for at least two years out of the five-year period ending on the day before their course starts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23286/24]

Further and Higher Education

Catherine Connolly

48. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 45 of 27 February 2024, the status of the proposed new further education college in Galway city; the status of the review by SOLAS and his Department of the project proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23052/24]

Grant Payments

Fergus O'Dowd

285. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he plans to alter the statutory instrument to include Ballyfermot College of Further Education as an approved provider of third level programmes in Ireland for SUSI grant maintenance funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23326/24]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Mairéad Farrell

286. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of craft instructors recruited as part of his national recruitment campaign to hire an additional 100 craft apprentice instructors. [23351/24]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Mairéad Farrell

287. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of craft apprentices currently employed by the ESB and Bord na Móna; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23352/24]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Mairéad Farrell

288. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when he plans to introduce a special purpose apprenticeship in modern methods of construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23353/24]

Grant Payments

Mairéad Farrell

289. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his future plans with regard to any potential changes in the SUSI grant system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23367/24]