Questions and answers published after July 2012 can be viewed here. Viewing by Government Department is possible by term or specific dates from March 2016 onwards. Written answers are published as received from departments. To see parliamentary questions published before July 2012, search in Dáil debates.
Questions and answers for all sittings
Page 1 of 144
Thu, 16 May 2024
written
Public Sector Pay
Marc Ó Cathasaigh
278. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 1695 of 9 April 2024, to report on the progress made with respect to outstanding backdated payments under the section 39 WRC pay agreement; when he expects that any payments still outstanding will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22246/24]
Wed, 15 May 2024
written
Departmental Contracts
Peadar Tóibín
144. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of publicly funded contracts awarded to a company (details supplied) by his Department in each of the past ten years; the cost of each contract; and the purpose for which each contract was awarded. [18662/24]
Wed, 15 May 2024
written
Information and Communications Technology
Louise O'Reilly
145. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the capital investment in computer and data infrastructure, by investment, in each of the years since 2011, in tabular form. [21991/24]
Wed, 15 May 2024
written
Educational Disadvantage
Paul Kehoe
146. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if any efforts are being made to accelerate the approval process for Reach funding to enable applicants to plan community education programmes in advance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22030/24]
Thu, 9 May 2024
written
Further and Higher Education
John Brady
318. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science what funding and supports are available to students studying psychotherapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20946/24]
Thu, 9 May 2024
written
Further and Higher Education
Mark Ward
319. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the widow's pension is classified as reckonable income when applying for the SUSI grant, as according to SUSI, the widow's grant is not reckonable income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20994/24]
Thu, 9 May 2024
written
Further and Higher Education
Carol Nolan
320. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for details of the number of students in higher education who are living with sight loss; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21078/24]
Wed, 8 May 2024
written
Energy Conservation
Darren O'Rourke
646. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the 2023 and 2024 budget allocation for near zero energy building training centres of excellence; and the amount of that budget that has been spent. [20162/24]
Wed, 8 May 2024
written
Further and Higher Education
Darren O'Rourke
647. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department has received the 2023 Annual Report and 2023 Audited Financial Statement from SOLAS; and if not, when his Department expects to receive same. [20163/24]
Wed, 8 May 2024
written
Education and Training Boards
Seán Canney
648. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an indication of the composition of the operational guidelines working group operating under the auspices of Education and Training Boards Ireland; if there is sectorial input from staff currently working within ETB Youthreach designated centres and community training centres that provide the Youthreach programme; how the input data are being gathered; if those data are being gathered through the extended Education and Training Boards Ireland-issued follow-up sectoral response survey last month to the 16 ETBs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20197/24]
Wed, 8 May 2024
written
Public Sector Pay
Alan Kelly
649. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason the pay increase of 2.25% backdated to 1 January 2024 was not paid to employees of University College Cork in the end of April payroll, despite the assurance that he gave in Parliamentary Question No. 265 of 11 April 2024 that his officials had instructed HEIs on 4 April 2024 to apply the revised rates of salary and allowances. [20221/24]
Wed, 8 May 2024
written
Departmental Staff
Carol Nolan
650. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of employees within his Department and bodies under the aegis of his Department who are currently suspended on full pay pending disciplinary investigations; to outline, in tabular form, the length of time these employees have been under suspension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20316/24]
Wed, 8 May 2024
written
European Union
Matt Carthy
651. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the EU programmes or funds outside of the multiannual financial framework that Ireland has paid into from the year 2014 to date; any receipts from same, by programme or fund, by year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20357/24]
Wed, 8 May 2024
written
Departmental Inquiries
Louise O'Reilly
652. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when he was first made aware that Ireland's national supercomputer, Kay, was due to reach its effective end of life in November 2023; why the State is now without a national supercomputer; and when a new national supercomputer will be in place and ready to use. [20603/24]
Wed, 8 May 2024
written
Departmental Inquiries
Louise O'Reilly
653. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on the impact of the lack of a national supercomputer and how this impacts the State's ability to attract the next-generation knowledge-intensive FDI. [20604/24]
Wed, 8 May 2024
written
Departmental Inquiries
Louise O'Reilly
654. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has concerns that the lack of a national supercomputer, which means Government Departments, State agencies, industry and academia instead have to use Luxembourg's supercomputer, will create delays and backlogs, and instead make organisations dependent on using private big tech, or else miss out on the latest wave of innovation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20605/24]
Wed, 8 May 2024
written
Departmental Meetings
Paul Donnelly
655. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has visited DCU since his appointment as Minister. [20637/24]
Wed, 8 May 2024
written
Departmental Policies
Bernard Durkan
656. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if changes can be made to ensure that eligibility for a higher education grant is not based on parental income, with particular reference to students who were working but decided to return to education as mature students given that many students in these circumstances cannot afford to live independently but appear to be refused access to higher education funding due to their living with their parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20696/24]
Wed, 8 May 2024
written
Departmental Data
Róisín Shortall
657. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of places in each postgraduate public health nursing course, in each of the years since 2019, in tabular form; the number of applicants; the number of admissions; and the number of graduates. [20704/24]
Wed, 8 May 2024
written
Departmental Programmes
Paul Kehoe
658. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to confirm the total number of Youthreach centres that have work experience/placements as a component part of their programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20752/24]
Wed, 8 May 2024
written
Departmental Legal Services
Paul Kehoe
659. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the legal requirement for centres for education in relation to Garda vetting of workplaces where Youthreach students are placed for work experience, and adherence to the child first legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20753/24]
Wed, 8 May 2024
written
Departmental Programmes
Marian Harkin
660. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science how Youthreach providers can offer summer programmes, with opportunities for extracurricular activities when there is a staff reduction (outside of the 166 days when teaching staff depart at the start of June annually) – in some centres the minimum figure of Resource Person : Teacher Grade is 49% nationally rising upwards to almost 90% in some individual centres. [20754/24]
Wed, 8 May 2024
written
Departmental Programmes
Marian Harkin
661. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the value of summer programmes has been identified in inspection reports of Youthreach undertaken by the Inspectorate in the Department of Education; and if his Department has also noted the potential health and safety issues that arise with a reduced staff providing this programme. [20755/24]
Wed, 8 May 2024
written
Research and Development
Mairéad Farrell
662. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to outline the criteria or considerations that the Government evaluates when deciding on membership in European Research Infrastructure Consortia, such as EATRIS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20757/24]
Wed, 8 May 2024
written
Research and Development
Mairéad Farrell
663. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will set up an interdepartmental working group to consider the benefits of Ireland joining EATRIS, the ERIC for translational research, given that research falls under his remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20758/24]
Thu, 2 May 2024
written
Dental Services
Brendan Howlin
318. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in relation to the proposed expansion in the number of dentists to be trained in Ireland, if he will set out the optimum number he believes should be catered for annually in third level colleges in Ireland; his plans to expand the number of dentistry places available at University College Cork and Trinity College Dublin; the plans he has to provide a new dental school and hospital at UCC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19910/24]
Thu, 2 May 2024
written
Third Level Education
Réada Cronin
319. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department will financially assist each Erasmus student to travel to their mainland European destination university by ferry and train (as opposed to by air which is often cheaper and incentivised); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19938/24]
Thu, 2 May 2024
written
Third Level Education
Ruairí Ó Murchú
320. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the numbers of students expelled from courses at each technological university and institute of technology from 2020 to date; the reasons for the expulsions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19945/24]
Thu, 2 May 2024
written
Further and Higher Education
Mairéad Farrell
321. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for the full list of colleges of further education and training which providing off-the-job training for craft apprentices, excluding the Education and Training Boards and Technological Universities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19957/24]
Thu, 2 May 2024
written
Further and Higher Education
Réada Cronin
322. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19990/24]
Wed, 1 May 2024
written
Cybersecurity Policy
Louise O'Reilly
327. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware of a training programme (details supplied); and if he will meet with the organisation regarding expansion of cyber security programmes in the further education sector. [19560/24]
Wed, 1 May 2024
written
Cybersecurity Policy
Louise O'Reilly
328. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware of a training programme (details supplied); and if he will meet with the organisation regarding cyber security for SMEs. [19561/24]
Wed, 1 May 2024
written
Further and Higher Education
Mairéad Farrell
329. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if, in relation to a matter (details supplied), he will identify the income that University of Limerick receives per annum from its commercial owned company in the years 2021, 2022 and 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19685/24]
Wed, 1 May 2024
written
Third Level Fees
Paul McAuliffe
330. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for a review of the college fees for a person (details supplied). [19839/24]
Wed, 1 May 2024
written
Education and Training Boards
Imelda Munster
331. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of apprenticeships (that is, the number of individual apprenticeships that are available, not a list of the different types of apprenticeships) in each of the ETBs in the State. [19891/24]
Tue, 30 Apr 2024
written
Third Level Fees
Paul Murphy
751. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in relation to the announcement in Budget 2024 that SUSI would pay fees of part-time students (details supplied) for the academic year 2024-2025, when he will provide guidelines to SUSI in order that this process can commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18752/24]
Tue, 30 Apr 2024
written
Further and Higher Education
Denis Naughten
752. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 493 of 7 and 208 of 23 March 2023, the current stage the process is at; the timeline for when it is proposed this matter will be concluded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18806/24]
Tue, 30 Apr 2024
written
Broadband Infrastructure
Denis Naughten
753. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total number of copper communication lines within his Department that are currently in active operation and for which his Department is paying for on a monthly basis, inclusive of ISDN, PTSN and copper-based lease lines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18838/24]
Tue, 30 Apr 2024
written
Third Level Staff
Catherine Murphy
754. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of WTE staff employed by Kildare-Wicklow Education and Training Board for the teaching of the English language to persons with little or no speaking English in 2022, 2023 and to-date in 2024, in tabular form. [18913/24]
Tue, 30 Apr 2024
written
Ukraine War
Robert Troy
755. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the supports in place to assist Ukrainian refugees with the cost of third-level education (details supplied). [18975/24]
Tue, 30 Apr 2024
written
Third Level Examinations
Michael Ring
756. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of exams (details supplied) that have experienced computer glitches and therefore could not be completed by applicants in the past five years, in tabular form; what remedies have been taken to resolve these computer glitches; the steps that have been taken for the persons affected by these computer glitches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18977/24]
Tue, 30 Apr 2024
written
Information and Communications Technology
Louise O'Reilly
757. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of Ireland’s national supercomputer; the length of time remaining on its lifespan or if it has been decommissioned; when a new supercomputer will be available to academia, industry, and Government Departments and agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19088/24]
Tue, 30 Apr 2024
written
Information and Communications Technology
Louise O'Reilly
758. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has approached the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment regarding co-funding for procuring Ireland’s new national supercomputer; if not, the reason therefor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19089/24]
Tue, 30 Apr 2024
written
Information and Communications Technology
Louise O'Reilly
759. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science how powerful Ireland’s current national supercomputer is; how powerful the new national supercomputer will be; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19090/24]
Tue, 30 Apr 2024
written
Information and Communications Technology
Louise O'Reilly
760. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department has considered making the Irish centre for high end-computing a standalone State agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19091/24]
Tue, 30 Apr 2024
written
Visa Applications
Matt Carthy
761. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware of an issue impacting upon non-EU citizens teaching and studying in Irish institutes of further and higher education whereby they are unable to secure appointments to apply for Schengen area visas; if he has engaged with his EU counterparts on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19125/24]
Tue, 30 Apr 2024
written
European Union
John Paul Phelan
762. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to list all Acts and Statutory Instruments sponsored by his Department which became law from 20 February 2020 to date in 2024 and which were necessitated, either in whole or in part, to transpose or give effect to regulations, directives or other measures passed at European Union level. [19167/24]
Tue, 30 Apr 2024
written
Departmental Funding
Louise O'Reilly
763. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware of the work of the UCD Professional Academy; what routes to public funding are available for the academy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19314/24]
Tue, 30 Apr 2024
written
Local Authorities
Catherine Murphy
764. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide the amount of grant-aid returned and or surrendered to his Department, by local authority in 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, to include the heading of which it was intended for. [19362/24]
Tue, 30 Apr 2024
written
Apprenticeship Programmes
Cian O'Callaghan
765. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of people who begin apprenticeships in the construction trades but drop out before completion, broken down by apprenticeship type, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19434/24]