Parliamentary questions

Departmental Data

Rose Conway-Walsh

533. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide information on the anticipated increased administrative burden on SUSI in order to process the €500 fee reduction for the 2023-2024 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59170/22]

Legislative Process

Rose Conway-Walsh

534. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when the working group will be established to examine the issues in relation to the legislative process, transitional arrangements and establishment of the new agency in advance of the publication of the research Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59174/22]

Legislative Process

Rose Conway-Walsh

535. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when the research Bill will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59175/22]

Departmental Projects

Rose Conway-Walsh

536. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of bundle 1 of the Higher Education Public Private Partnership Programme particularly in relation to the status of each project; if it has reached its financial closure; if construction has commenced; the total life-time cost and annual cost to the State of each of the six projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59176/22]

Departmental Data

Rose Conway-Walsh

537. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of students enrolled in level 5 pre-nursing courses in the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 academic years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59177/22]

Third Level Admissions

Rose Conway-Walsh

538. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of students who were accepted onto undergraduate nursing courses following the completion of a level 5 pre-nursing course in 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 academic years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59178/22]

Departmental Staff

Pauline Tully

539. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of access officers responsible for providing or arranging for and co-ordinating assistance and guidance to people with disabilities accessing his Departments’ services who are employed in his Department as required by section 26 (2) of the Disability Act 2005; the way that his Department makes its customers aware of this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59293/22]

Third Level Fees

Seán Sherlock

540. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will outline the process to obtain the €1,000 refund for college fees as recently announced in Budget 2023; if he will consider matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59337/22]

Research Funding

Richard Boyd Barrett

541. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update and the date on which all Science Foundation Ireland and the Irish Research Council PhDs will receive the promised Q4 €500 payment as specified in Budget 2023 (details supplied); if this date is not in Q4 of 2022 as promised; the reason that led to it being delayed; the reason that this information was not communicated sooner; the accountability mechanisms that exist within these organisations to ensure that these payments are provided; if the request for clarification from an organisation was received; when it will receive a response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59463/22]

Departmental Data

Sorca Clarke

542. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of students with a disability who have begun third level education by county in the academic year 2022-2023, in tabular form. [59554/22]

Departmental Contracts

Jackie Cahill

543. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the names of all companies supplying private security and cleaning services in his Department, including the cost of private cleaning in his Department, the cost of private security in his Department; the number of private cleaners supplied to his Department to provide these duties as part of these contracts, and the number of private security personnel supplied to his Department on foot of these contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59733/22]

Departmental Reviews

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

281. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the expected delivery date for the comprehensive skills review being undertaken by the OECD and commissioned by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58492/22]

Third Level Fees

Paul Kehoe

282. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason that the €1,000 reduction in fees is not applied to master's or postgraduate courses; if he will consider extending this measure to this group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58615/22]

Further and Higher Education

Gary Gannon

283. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason that those with disabilities partaking in the National Learning Network are being excluded from receiving the disability allowance. [58621/22]

Third Level Admissions

Brendan Smith

284. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the widespread concerns that for some third-level courses, particularly in medicine and related areas, and that in some cases, students with 625 points in the Leaving Certificate were not successful in their applications; if such courses are being taken up with a full complement of students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58637/22]

Third Level Education

Brendan Howlin

285. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the agreements reached between the Irish and UK governments post-Brexit provide that Irish students wishing to study at postgraduate level in the UK pay the same fees as British students; if such students are eligible for maintenance grants under the Irish student grants scheme; if students undertaking distance-learning postgraduate courses at a UK university are covered by the post-Brexit agreements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58644/22]

Third Level Education

Bernard Durkan

286. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the extent to which the son of a person (details supplied) is in receipt of their full entitlements by way of a SUSI grant as opposed to the half rate that they were awarded in the first instance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58687/22]

Education and Training Provision

Pauline Tully

141. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 454 of 15 November 2022, the uptake on each of these courses over the past five years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58305/22]

Third Level Costs

Gary Gannon

142. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the halving of the student assistance fund from €16.2 million to €8 million, which has returned the budget allocation of the student assistance fund to pre-Covid levels; if he has any plans to address this issue through a further allocation of funds to the student assistance fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58378/22]

Social Welfare Benefits

Sorca Clarke

496. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the case of people attending training with the National Learning Network but were transferred from a long-term disability payment to a training allowance and are now being excluded from the €500 lump sum payment announced in budget 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57257/22]

Social Welfare Benefits

Seán Haughey

497. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if claimants of the disability allowance who transferred to the temporary training allowance will be able to receive the one-off €500 cost-of-living lump sum payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57261/22]

Official Travel

Carol Nolan

498. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he or any officials from his Department or from bodies under the aegis of his Department travelled to the climate change conference in Sharm el-Sheikh; the number of people who travelled; the costs incurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57316/22]

Budget 2023

Niamh Smyth

499. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way in which all refunds for students and apprentices as announced in Budget 2023 will be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57517/22]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Darren O'Rourke

500. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total expenditure in each year since 2018 on the accommodation allowance and meal allowance for apprentices, in tabular form; and the average cost per apprentice per year. [57572/22]

Education Policy

Louise O'Reilly

501. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his Department's views on whether there is a crisis in the English language education sector for students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57672/22]

Education Policy

Louise O'Reilly

502. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department will conduct an income over expenditure analysis for English language education students on stamp 2 visas from the perspective of the student; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57673/22]

Education Policy

Louise O'Reilly

503. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if an independent regulator will be put in place for the English language education sector; and if such a regulator will oversee agents operating as intermediaries between students and English language education sector schools. [57674/22]

Education Policy

Louise O'Reilly

504. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department will ensure that agents operating as intermediaries between students and English-language sector schools comply with the rules regarding escrow accounts when receiving payment for English-language education sector courses from students. [57675/22]

Student Accommodation

Rose Conway-Walsh

505. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide details on the proposals recently supported by the Cabinet to increase the supply of student accommodation, including proposals for the State to assist directly in bridging the gap between development costs and rental affordability in relation to the provision of additional student accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57707/22]

Student Accommodation

Rose Conway-Walsh

506. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when he anticipates the student accommodation unit will bring forward a new student accommodation policy for Cabinet approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57708/22]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Rose Conway-Walsh

507. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of apprentices working across the public sector; the percentage this is of the total number of registered apprentices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57709/22]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Rose Conway-Walsh

508. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of apprentices employed across the public sector in each of the years since 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57710/22]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Rose Conway-Walsh

509. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of registered apprentices; the number of registered craft apprentices; the number of craft apprentices who have been registered for more than two or four years in the cases of those registered on two-year apprenticeships, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57711/22]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Rose Conway-Walsh

510. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the annual expenditure on the apprentice accommodation allowances and travel allowance, per year since 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57712/22]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Rose Conway-Walsh

511. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of craft apprentices waiting to access off-the-job training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57713/22]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Rose Conway-Walsh

512. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of apprentices on each programme, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57714/22]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Rose Conway-Walsh

513. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of apprentices employed by each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57715/22]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Rose Conway-Walsh

514. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of apprentices employed by each State and semi-State body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57716/22]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Alan Dillon

515. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the extent to which SOLAS and the ETBs support an organisation (details supplied) to develop a craft apprentice programme that will help generate the next generation of woodturners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57800/22]

Education and Training Boards

Seán Canney

516. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of the creation of a new further education and training college in Galway to consolidate the provision by the Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board of education in the city and to enable the board to deliver on the national Further Education and Training Strategy and on his Department’s policy mission to develop Ireland’s further and higher education and research and innovation system to ensure they are capable of meeting the diverse needs of all; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57841/22]

Third Level Fees

Mark Ward

517. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the €1,000 refund on the student contribution will be given to those who have started a new course and have already completed a year of a different course.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57966/22]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Paul Murphy

518. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will request SOLAS to ensure there is a placement in a Dublin-based college for an electrical apprentice; and if he will ensure they are given a place now and will not have to wait a further three months. [58068/22]

Social Welfare Payments

Kieran O'Donnell

256. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on whether students who are attending the National Learning Network, who were awarded the disability allowance, should receive the €500 cost-of-living disability support grant in the same way as persons who were awarded the disability allowance and are receiving their payment from his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57159/22]

Departmental Funding

Seán Haughey

257. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total amount in Government funding allocated to the student assistance fund for the academic years 2017-2018, 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021, 2021-2022 and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57067/22]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Michael Lowry

258. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will address a situation involving a person (details supplied) who is having difficulty gaining a college placement for their apprenticeship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57240/22]

EU Data

Richard O'Donoghue

148. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total financial amount on both a daily and yearly basis, of EU fines being paid by his Department in 2022; if he will provide the corresponding figures for 2020 and 2021, including the specifics of each case in his Department. [56781/22]

Third Level Education

Richard Boyd Barrett

149. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will address the case of a student (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56770/22]

Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence

Thomas Pringle

150. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the strategies that his Department is implementing to tackle the issue of the prevalence of sexual violence against women and girls; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56864/22]

Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence

Thomas Pringle

151. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the UK government awareness campaign on the issue of the prevalence of sexual violence against women and girls, entitled “ENOUGH”; if he will consider developing and funding a similar campaign in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56865/22]

Departmental Meetings

Violet-Anne Wynne

152. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of times that he has visited County Clare since the Government took office; and the locations that he visited in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57029/22]

Departmental Schemes

Pauline Tully

447. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if one-off payments in budget 2023 will be counted as income in the means test when applying for the SUSI grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55723/22]

Third Level Admissions

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

448. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on a matter (details supplied). [56145/22]

Education and Training Provision

James Lawless

449. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will examine an issue regarding a gratuity allowance for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56160/22]

Grant Payments

Niamh Smyth

450. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of a student grant appeal by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56196/22]

Third Level Costs

James O'Connor

451. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56233/22]

Third Level Fees

Richard Boyd Barrett

452. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if an EU student resident in Ireland for the past three years is eligible for the free fees Initiative if their parents are resident in Romania; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56318/22]

Education and Training Provision

Ged Nash

453. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department will consider developing, with the ETBs and other statutory education bodies, networks of remote study hubs in regional towns in which there is no third level institution footprint; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56484/22]

Education and Training Provision

Pauline Tully

454. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if postgraduate conversion courses exist to allow a person holding an undergraduate degree to acquire a qualification in physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and psychology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56526/22]

Third Level Fees

Willie O'Dea

455. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider extending the €1,000 reduction in the student contribution fee to disabled students who have already finished an undergraduate programme but need to retrain through no fault of their own; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56534/22]

Education and Training Provision

Cathal Crowe

456. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will broaden the entry criteria for Springboard in order that persons in receipt of the invalidity pension payment can also avail of Springboard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56640/22]

Education and Training Provision

Michael Healy-Rae

275. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55959/22]

Grant Payments

Matt Shanahan

276. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total amount of remuneration increase proposed to PhDs during this academic year and in the years to follow 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55979/22]

Grant Payments

Matt Shanahan

277. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when the increases in budget 2022 in relation to PhD remuneration will come to pass; when PhDs can expect to see this remuneration increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55980/22]

Grant Payments

Matt Shanahan

278. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the range and scope of the proposed review of the salary scales and remuneration on offer to PhDs (details supplied); the proposed timing of when such a review might report; his views on what is adequate remuneration for PhD students and post-doctoral research and working in the public sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55981/22]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

279. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress that has been made to achieving the target he announced in 2022 of 750 public sector apprenticeships by 2025; the number of apprenticeships actually delivered in the public sector since announcement; the engagement that there has been between his Department and the local authority sector; if so, the commitments that have been received to date. [55996/22]

Third Level Reform

Carol Nolan

280. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress he has made in relation to the commitment in the programme for Government to develop a long-term sustainable funding model for higher level education; the estimated timeframe for when such a model will be put in place in legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56022/22]

Third Level Education

Catherine Murphy

100. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update in respect of the current status of Erasmus+ programmes; his plans for a funding scheme to support third level students studying in the Republic of Ireland to participate in educational visits in Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55700/22]

Departmental Staff

Mick Barry

101. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of civil servants in his Department who are seconded to State agencies or other public bodies and in receipt of a higher duty or acting allowance; the number who have been seconded for more than ten, more than 20 and more 30 years, respectively; if the higher duty allowance is not pensionable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55767/22]

Public Sector Staff

Mairéad Farrell

799. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views in relation to Haddington Road hours (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54601/22]

Third Level Fees

Claire Kerrane

800. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if repeating first-year students are eligible for the fee reduction announced in budget 2023, in cases where a student has changed course after one year and is now a first-year student on a course; if he will set out the guidance for which students have been deemed eligible for the fee reduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54106/22]

Grant Payments

Marian Harkin

801. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider adding graduate-entry medicine students to the SUSI grant scheme to help alleviate the costs of that programme for low-income students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54150/22]

Third Level Fees

Marian Harkin

802. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason for the omission of graduate-entry medicine students from lowered contribution fees for higher education students announced in budget 2023, during a time of a shortage of doctors and medical staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54151/22]

Third Level Fees

Marian Harkin

803. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the supports available to students to alleviate the high cost of the graduate-entry medicine programme at University College Dublin (details supplied); the plans in place to bring the fees down in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54152/22]

Educational Disadvantage

Peadar Tóibín

804. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of students who have applied for additional scholarships for underrepresented and disadvantaged students announced on 29 July 2022; the number of successful applicants who have received funding under this scheme across all strands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54160/22]

Grant Payments

Peadar Tóibín

805. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of graduate-entry medicine scholarship students who have retained funding from the National Access Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54161/22]

Departmental Properties

Catherine Murphy

806. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department and all bodies under his Department's aegis have reviewed their estates portfolio in the context of identifying unoccupied buildings that may be suitable for use in the context of meeting the accommodation needs of persons arriving in Ireland from Ukraine. [54218/22]

Departmental Properties

Catherine Murphy

807. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number and type of unused and-or unoccupied buildings in his Department's estates portfolio and all bodies under his Department's aegis. [54236/22]

Student Accommodation

James Browne

808. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the position regarding increasing the quantity of student accommodation available for undergraduate students in Ireland. [54260/22]

Education Policy

Rose Conway-Walsh

809. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the new international education strategy will be published before the end of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54314/22]

Substance Misuse

Mattie McGrath

810. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is concerned regarding the levels of drug-taking within Ireland's third level student community; the efforts that can be taken to clamp down on drug use within the student community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54367/22]

Third Level Fees

Seán Canney

811. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason that the reduction in the student contribution of €1,000 is not extended to students who have changed college course and are deemed to be repeating first year even though it is a different course; if his attention has been drawn to the difficulty that this is causing for a great number of families where a student has changed courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54439/22]

Public Sector Staff

Cathal Crowe

812. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress that has been made in issuing adult educators with public service contracts (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54461/22]

Third Level Education

Rose Conway-Walsh

813. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update on the Higher Education Authority call for expressions of interest in creating more places for student vets and veterinary nurses; the target number of additional places in both veterinary medicine and veterinary nursing; the way in which this will be funded; the estimated timeframe for the first additional places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54505/22]

Third Level Education

Rose Conway-Walsh

814. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide details of all Higher Education Authority calls for expressions of interest in delivering additional places in third level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54506/22]

Student Accommodation

Paul Kehoe

815. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider recommending that third level institutions provide access to online, remote, recorded lectures to assist students who are struggling to find local accommodation or who are facing lengthy commutes to attend their courses on a daily basis due to the lack of accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54556/22]

Qualifications Recognition

Jim O'Callaghan

816. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the Construction Safety Licensing Bill 2022 will impact on QQI certifications that have already been awarded to persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54665/22]

Third Level Fees

Seán Haughey

817. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if college students who are returning to full-time education to complete a second level 8 qualification will be able to avail of the €1,000 college fee reduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54784/22]

Third Level Admissions

Thomas Gould

818. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of students currently enrolled in social care programmes in Munster Technological University. [54818/22]

Qualifications Recognition

Thomas Gould

819. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the matter whereby students currently enrolled in social care programmes in Munster Technological University will graduate without CORU accreditation. [54819/22]

Education Schemes

Paul Murphy

820. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will ensure that there is assistance provided to college for a student (details supplied) so that they can return to in-person learning as soon as possible. [55014/22]

Qualifications Recognition

Michael Creed

821. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will clarify the situation regarding the validity of qualifications received from previous regional technical colleges and institutes of technology, which have now been upgraded to technological universities; the status of these qualifications and of the awarding bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55032/22]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Paul Murphy

822. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of candidates who are affected by the backlog for apprenticeships for electricians, carpenters and plumbers, including those waiting to do their apprenticeships and those waiting to finish their apprenticeships; and the reason that a backlog exists. [55062/22]

Education Policy

Paul Murphy

823. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason that Solas is sponsoring an RTÉ radio show for apprenticeships when the purpose of Solas funding is for education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55066/22]

Third Level Fees

Carol Nolan

824. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider making the one-off €1,000 reduction in the undergraduate student contribution fee for higher education students a universal payment to all undergraduate students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55122/22]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Paul Donnelly

825. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of apprenticeships taken up in each of the years 2019 to 2021 and to 31 October 2022, in tabular form. [55330/22]

Third Level Fees

Alan Dillon

826. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason a student (details supplied) was excluded from the student fee reduction announced in budget 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55469/22]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Paul Murphy

827. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of apprenticeships currently registered for electricians, plumbers and carpenters; the number for the year 2021, in tabular form, for comparative purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55470/22]

Education and Training Boards

Paul Murphy

828. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the current number of ETB places and the number of trainers and teachers in Ireland for electricians, plumbers and carpenters; the number of same for 2021, in tabular form, for comparative purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55471/22]

Departmental Staff

Catherine Murphy

829. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of officials in his Department who have undertaken the Harvard Business School advanced management programme in the past ten years to date; the grade of each official; and the cost for each attendee, in tabular form. [55483/22]

Third Level Fees

Sean Fleming

830. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a person (details supplied) will receive the benefit of the reduction in the fees payment recently announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55572/22]