Parliamentary questions

Student Universal Support Ireland

Duncan Smith

188. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will qualify for a SUSI grant; if there is an appeal for a student in their situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28968/20]

Third Level Admissions

Cathal Crowe

189. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a person (details supplied) who sat the leaving certificate in 2019 and has marginally missed out on their preferred college offer due to the 2020 leaving certificate anomaly will be considered for the course of their choice. [29007/20]

Third Level Costs

Mattie McGrath

190. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if supports will be made available in budget 2021 to families of college going students that have paid full accommodation and college fees but are advised to reside at home resulting in a significant loss for families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29008/20]

Student Assistance Fund

Colm Burke

191. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if consideration will be given to the extension of the student assistance fund to all agricultural college students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29051/20]

State Examinations

Seán Haughey

192. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider the implications arising from the use of calculated grades in the leaving certificate 2020 for the CAO and college entry for students sitting the leaving certificate in 2021; the actions he plans to take to deal with the issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29093/20]

Student Support Schemes

Seán Sherlock

193. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of laptops delivered and allocated to each further education institution in tabular form. [29096/20]

Third Level Admissions

Gary Gannon

194. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will address a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied). [29244/20]

State Examinations

Gary Gannon

195. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if there will be consideration given to the errors in the calculated grades, in the case that a student with HEAR or DARE status has a grade increase that an increase in points for these students could have led to offers for courses in participating colleges at reduced levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29245/20]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Richard Bruton

196. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the take-up to date of the subsidy to employers for enrolling apprentices; the breakdown by sector; and if consideration will be given to extending the closing date of the scheme. [29254/20]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Richard Bruton

197. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the take-up to date of the subsidy to employers for enrolling apprentices; the break down by sector; and if he will consider extending the closing date of the scheme. [29255/20]

Springboard Programme

Richard Bruton

198. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the changes in the eligibility criteria for Springboard opportunities for support for postgraduate participation. [29256/20]

Further Education and Training Programmes

Richard Bruton

199. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the conditions under which persons can participate in the skills to compete programme announced as part of the July stimulus; and the duration for which the additional supports will remain in place. [29257/20]

Student Grant Scheme

Robert Troy

562. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason carer’s benefit is included as reckonable income as part of a SUSI application when carer’s allowance is not; and the reason the carer's support grant is included in reckonable income if the person is in receipt of carer’s benefit but is disregarded if he or she is in receipt of carer’s allowance (details supplied). [28320/20]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Ged Nash

563. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of applications received and approved under the apprenticeship incentivisation scheme since March 2020, by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28657/20]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Ged Nash

564. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the timeframe for the development and completion of the apprenticeship action plan 2021 to 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28658/20]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Ged Nash

565. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of apprentices enrolled and participating on each of the 57 apprenticeship programmes in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28659/20]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Ged Nash

566. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of apprentices enrolled and participating on each of the 57 apprenticeship programmes in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28660/20]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Ged Nash

567. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of women and men, respectively, enrolled and participating on each of the 57 apprenticeship programmes in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28661/20]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Ged Nash

568. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of apprentices aged 16 to 17, 18 to 21, 22 to 24, 25 to 29 and over 30 years of age in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28662/20]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Ged Nash

569. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on the introduction of a national access to apprenticeship programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28663/20]

Language Schools

Michael McNamara

570. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if supports will remain in place for language schools to allow the industry to protect itself and recover over the next 12 to 18 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28722/20]

Third Level Costs

Michael Healy-Rae

571. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps that will be taken to assist parents and students who have paid for accommodation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28090/20]

Student Support Schemes

Mark Ward

572. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the supports available to students who have been denied SUSI because they did not meet the criteria; if other supports are available to persons who are still struggling to pay fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28118/20]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Louise O'Reilly

573. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will work to facilitate apprentice hairdressers getting back on site to continue their educational training; and if he will engage with those businesses providing the on-the-job work experience side of the training to ensure these apprentices can complete their apprenticeships. [28162/20]

Third Level Costs

Bernard Durkan

574. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the procedure to be followed or expected in the case of a person (details supplied) who has been awarded their second choice place in DCU and has now been informed that the course will operate as a virtual course; if they are entitled to a refund of the maintenance element of their payment which they have already made to the college in respect of accommodation; if the course is likely to continue remotely; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28269/20]

Nursing Education

Imelda Munster

575. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if additional third level college places in nursing will be provided; the location these places will be provided; the closing date for applications for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28302/20]

Nursing Education

Willie O'Dea

576. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if additional third level college places in nursing will be provided; if so, the locations in which places will be provided; the closing date for application to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28306/20]

Third Level Costs

Cian O'Callaghan

577. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide details of the way in which the additional funds for universities are used; if he has been involved in any talks about a discount or reduction of tuition fees for students in view of the changes to the level of access they have to campus and educational offerings compared with pre-Covid times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28512/20]

Nursing Education

Cian O'Callaghan

578. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has considered financial assistance or concessions for student nurses and midwives on nursing programmes when they are prevented from working part-time jobs due to infection control measures across clinical sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28513/20]

EU Directives

Catherine Connolly

579. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the cost to his Department to date of all fines paid by Ireland for non-transposition of EU directives into Irish law; the breakdown, by directive, of the lump sum cost and the daily cost of each fine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28613/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Rose Conway-Walsh

580. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 319 of 29 September 2020, if he will provide the total amount of additional Covid-19-related Exchequer expenditure for 2021 for his Department and a breakdown by line items of this additional expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28682/20]

Student Universal Support Ireland

Mick Barry

581. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he supports the principle of persons born in the State who are not Irish, UK, EEA or Swiss nationals and who qualify under the residency and other requirements of the schemes being able to access SUSI grants and the free fees scheme on the same basis as Irish, UK, EEA and Swiss nationals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28688/20]

Student Support Schemes

Rose Conway-Walsh

582. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the provision in place or that will be put in place for students who have limited or no access to Internet connectivity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28891/20]

International Students

Gary Gannon

583. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if correspondence was received from this Deputy on 23 September 2020 regarding a letter from international students in Ireland; and if a reply will issue shortly. [28899/20]

Departmental Contracts

Catherine Murphy

584. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has engaged a third-party company in each of the years 2017 to 2019 and to date in 2020 to conduct online and-or social media monitoring and-or provide reports on social media coverage of his Department; if so, the cost of same; and if the names of the social media platforms being monitored will be provided. [28918/20]

Departmental Staff

Catherine Murphy

585. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of staff in his Department on sick leave between March and September, by month, in 2019 and to date in 2020; the pay arrangements that exist for staff on sick leave for an extended period of time; the number of sick days accounted for by his Department over the period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28936/20]

Student Grant Scheme

Róisín Shortall

586. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a residency clause was in place stating that the children of returning Irish emigrants must have been resident in the State for three out of the previous five years prior to their student grant application, prior to enactment of the Student Support Act 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28947/20]

Student Universal Support Ireland

Robert Troy

235. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on whether it is right that persons in receipt of a SUSI grant who live 45 km or more from the college they attend are being refused the non-adjacent grant (details supplied). [27795/20]

Third Level Admissions

Brendan Howlin

236. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if there is a mechanism to address a person's situation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27838/20]

Student Universal Support Ireland

Emer Higgins

237. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the support available to students of families who would qualify for SUSI grants if it were not for the residency condition. [27777/20]

Third Level Staff

Paul Murphy

238. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the use of postgraduates in precarious positions for teaching and other duties is increasing in NUIG and that the university expects postgraduate workers to carry out unpaid teaching; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that postgraduates at NUIG have declared their intention to refuse to carry out work which is not remunerated at the existing collectively bargained rate; and the steps he will take to meet the demands of postgraduate workers (details supplied). [27778/20]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Michael Collins

239. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27957/20]

Third Level Fees

Denis Naughten

240. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if it will be ensured that college registration fees are reduced in line with the reduction in face-to-face contact with students by lecturers and blended learning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27977/20]

Third Level Costs

John McGuinness

192. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide funding to those taking up private third-level courses who are on very limited incomes and who are upskilling to seek alternative employment due to changes to their employment circumstances caused by Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27475/20]

Third Level Education

Jennifer Whitmore

193. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of persons who have achieved a QQI level 5 qualification or higher in childcare, early childhood education and care or Montessori in each of the years 2000 to 2010 and in each of the years 2010 to 2019 and to date in 2020, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27505/20]

Student Support Schemes

Brendan Griffin

194. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the laptop scheme for third-level students will be extended to Teagasc students; if the estimated cost of the measure will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27620/20]

Student Support Schemes

Rose Conway-Walsh

195. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the eligibility criteria for applying for laptops funded by his Department in response to the Covid-19 pandemic (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27510/20]

Student Universal Support Ireland

Rose Conway-Walsh

196. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of taking account for the interaction between increasing the income threshold for SUSI grants by 10%, increasing the SUSI maintenance grant by 10% and reducing student contribution charges by €500, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27511/20]

Institutes of Technology

Alan Kelly

197. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of the construction of the Limerick Institute of Technology Coonagh site in Limerick City; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27512/20]

Departmental Expenditure

Matt Carthy

198. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount spent on media monitoring services by his Department; if the role is provided by private contract operators or in-house services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27567/20]