Parliamentary questions

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Student Accommodation

Mairéad Farrell

766. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science where applications in relation to the use of the dormant funds accounts to support those young care leavers seeking student accommodation can be made; the guidelines for applying; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19465/24]

Departmental Staff

Cian O'Callaghan

767. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will look into a situation where a person is waiting on wages (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19485/24]

Further and Higher Education

Mark Ward

768. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a person who was studying medicine at a university (details supplied) can continue their studies here in Ireland given the ongoing conflict in the region; how they can go about transferring their course to here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19519/24]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Mairéad Farrell

351. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of electrical, plumbing and carpentry apprentices who completed their course in 2023, broken down by the year in which they first registered for their course, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18500/24]

Youth Work Supports

Marian Harkin

352. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on whether alignment of the Youthreach calendar year with the second level schools' calendar would be a cost-saving measure to public expenditure as well as a contribution to the educational delivery of the service, going forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18531/24]

Youth Work Supports

Gino Kenny

353. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science how the Youthreach programme functions above the 166 days for students, given the reduction in staff who are employed as pro-rata teachers/resource persons; the percentage breakdown, by centre to indicate the way staffing levels change during this time (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18532/24]

Youth Work Supports

Gino Kenny

354. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if principal officers and deputy principal officers who work within the Youthreach education service read the Youthreach Employee Wellbeing Report 2022: A review of employees’ experience of working in the Youthreach Sector, published in January 2023; if he has concerns which may have been raised by the Youthreach Employee Wellbeing Report 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18533/24]

Research and Development

Neasa Hourigan

355. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total expenditure in the form of grants or relief given to social enterprises for research and innovation in each of the years 2020 to 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18570/24]

Student Accommodation

Mairéad Farrell

356. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 754 of 16 April 2024, the specific legislation that his officials and those from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage are looking to amend; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18575/24]

Student Accommodation

Michael Healy-Rae

193. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18181/24]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Imelda Munster

194. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide a list of apprenticeships that are available in the Louth and Meath region; the number of apprenticeships available in counties Louth and Meath in each of the years 2022 to 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18138/24]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Imelda Munster

195. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide a list of the number of apprenticeships available in each of the years 2022 to 2024, in tabular form. [18139/24]

Youth Work Supports

Matt Carthy

196. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he intends to align Youthreach centres for education with second level schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18301/24]

Youth Work Supports

Matt Carthy

197. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his response to the Youthreach Employee Wellbeing Report 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18302/24]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Mairéad Farrell

198. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 581 of 7 February 2024, given that is has been three months, if he can please give an indication of when Solas will be in a position to provide a breakdown, by county, in tabular form, of the number of craft apprentices currently waiting for off the job training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18369/24]

Departmental Advertising

Ged Nash

199. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for figures on the total spend for all forms of advertising in the years 2022 and 2023 in his Department; if figures can be provided on each Department’s spend on local media advertising (print and broadcast respectively, and broken down on that basis) for those years; if the Department used/uses an agency to place advertising; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18393/24]

Departmental Contracts

Carol Nolan

200. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department has at any time engaged the services of a company (details supplied) or allocated the company funding or support in any capacity; if he or his officials have engaged with personnel from the company; if so, the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18445/24]

Period Poverty

Duncan Smith

694. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will increase the €200 thousand share of funding for Naughton + Smyth framework for the provision of period products to higher-education institutions (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18090/24]

Third Level Education

Patrick Costello

695. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on Trinity College’s policy (details supplied) which prevents any external tour guides from using the campus and/or Book of Kells for guiding purposes. [17314/24]

Third Level Education

Patrick Costello

696. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on Trinity College’s policy (details supplied) which prevents any external tour guides from using the campus and/or Book of Kells for guiding purposes. [17315/24]

Third Level Education

Mairéad Farrell

697. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when the international education mark will be rolled out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17391/24]

Third Level Education

Mairéad Farrell

698. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the additional resources that will be allocated to ensure that education providers are compliant with the international education mark. [17392/24]

Departmental Expenditure

Sorca Clarke

699. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his Department's capital underspend, if any, in 2023; and his Department's projected spend in 2024. [17422/24]

Research Funding

Ivana Bacik

700. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to allocate increased funding across all career stages for researchers; and his views on the importance of basic or frontier research and the need for parity of esteem across disciplines. [17530/24]

Grant Payments

Louise O'Reilly

701. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the SUSI grant will be rolled out for part-time courses from September 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17562/24]

Third Level Education

Louise O'Reilly

702. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware of the closure of a college (details supplied) and the impact it is having on students and their families; and if he will engage with students on the Bachelor of Education in Montessori (early years) Education course to find alternative options to complete their degrees. [17581/24]

Grant Payments

Patrick Costello

703. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the grants or scholarships available to Irish students studying for masters degrees in UK institutions. [17591/24]

Period Poverty

Francis Noel Duffy

704. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if, following the success of his pilot scheme of free period products in further education/training centres, his Department has engaged with the Minister for Health on the rollout of free period products in universities and the wider third level sector. [17628/24]

Research and Development

Brian Leddin

705. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to list the members of the Steering Group, Implementation Forum and Advisory Forum of Impact 2030: Ireland’s Research and Innovation Strategy; and whether minutes of the meeting of each body are published online. [17636/24]

Medical Research and Training

Mairéad Farrell

706. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the plans or actions he has taken to attain membership of the European Infrastructure for Translational Medicine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17664/24]

Third Level Education

Mark Ward

707. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science what options are available to an Irish student (details supplied) whose studies were impacted by Covid lockdowns; what avenues are available to her to complete her course; if the Department will intervene on her behalf to allow her to continue her studies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17673/24]

Third Level Education

Mairéad Farrell

708. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide a list of all universities identifying whether each has run a surplus or deficit for the financial year 2023, the value of this surplus or deficit and the change from the financial year 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17676/24]

Further and Higher Education

Peadar Tóibín

709. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the action he is taking to retain current and future personnel in the construction sector, and from being recruited internationally; the number of graduates and those employed in the construction sector who have emigrated in each of the past five years, by general trade and specialist category in the industry; the number of the same cohort who returned to Ireland in that time period, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17868/24]

Third Level Education

Neasa Hourigan

710. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update on the work of his Department to secure places for students from this jurisdiction in medical schools in Northern Ireland; whether he has ensured that these students would then be eligible to apply to work in the HSE on graduation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17898/24]

Third Level Admissions

James Lawless

711. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to examine an issue (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17944/24]

Education and Training Provision

John Brady

314. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of staff employed in the delivery of English language classes to IPAS and BOTPs in Ireland, by area, and on a monthly basis, for the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17107/24]

Education and Training Provision

John Brady

315. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of IPAS and BOTPs who are receiving English language classes, on an area-by-area and monthly basis, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17108/24]

Qualifications Recognition

Paul Kehoe

316. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the process by which a person can have their professional qualification (details supplied) recognised by the NFQ in line with recognition of similar awards from 17 September 2007 to 6 November 2012, which are recognised by HETAC as equivalent to an award at level 9 on the framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17151/24]

Grant Payments

Pauline Tully

317. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider changing the eligibility criteria for the student grant scheme to enable students whose family was granted legal residency in Ireland through the regularisation of long-term undocumented migrants scheme to apply using the total number of years they lived in Ireland, including when they were undocumented. [17239/24]

Departmental Reports

Thomas Pringle

171. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will extend the deadline for sectoral input responses to a report (details supplied), as the request to ETBI on 22 March, with a deadline of 25 March, is a timeline that appears wholly inadequate to facilitate valid sectoral feedback and input; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16764/24]

Departmental Reports

Jennifer Whitmore

172. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on the timeline for completion of a report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16798/24]

Departmental Reviews

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

173. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when the review of the status of PhD researchers, that is, their classification as either students or employees, will be published. [16843/24]

Period Poverty

Neasa Hourigan

174. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to ensure all third-level educational institutions provide free period products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16892/24]

Period Poverty

Patrick Costello

175. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will ensure that higher education institutions are sufficiently resourced to be able to provide free on-campus sanitary products to their students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16948/24]

Further and Higher Education

John Brady

753. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science what current English language support classes are in place for IPAs and BOTPs; how are they being delivered; the cost of same, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16180/24]

Student Accommodation

Mairéad Farrell

754. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware of the crisis that has now arisen in Ireland's study abroad sector where visiting international students are not able to source accommodation as the investment fund-owned providers of purpose-built student accommodation has brought in 51-week leases, and the students' home universities are not in a position to pay the cost of the additional ten-to-12-week leases; if his Department has conducted any analysis of the impact these 51-week leases could have on the study abroad sector, which is worth €220 million per annum to the economy and employs 350 staff members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16040/24]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Rose Conway-Walsh

755. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total number of new registrations for apprenticeships, broken down by consortia and craft; the total number of consortia and craft apprentices currently registered; the number of apprentices currently waiting to access off-site training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16159/24]

Further and Higher Education

Kathleen Funchion

756. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a SUSI application by person (details enclosed) will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16236/24]

Student Unions

Bríd Smith

757. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware that a students’ union (details supplied) recently launched a petition calling for the Government to provide free period products in all higher education institutions, which has now almost 3,000 signatures; if he will commit to increasing funding in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16323/24]

Further and Higher Education

Niamh Smyth

758. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if funding is available for Irish citizens studying in the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16330/24]

Further and Higher Education

Alan Kelly

759. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of approved PLC places in County Tipperary in the years of 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [16414/24]

Further and Higher Education

Carol Nolan

760. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science what arrangements or pathways are in place to assist beneficiaries of temporary protection or international protection applicants in accessing the CAO application system; the number of persons in each category that have been assisted from 2019 to date; what grants are available to enable participation of persons in both categories in further and higher education; if such grants or financial supports are means tested; the total value of the grants or financial assistance provided during this time period to both BoPT CAO applicants and IPAS CAO applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16425/24]

Further and Higher Education

Seán Haughey

761. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware of the recent announcement concerning the closure of a college (details supplied); if he will intervene to assist these students to continue their courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16448/24]

Student Unions

Cian O'Callaghan

762. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will extend the roll-out of free period products to all higher education institutions including universities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16537/24]

Student Unions

Richard Boyd Barrett

763. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will ensure that the pilot project to provide free period products is extended to a permanent scheme and is put in place for all further and higher education institutions as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16542/24]

Departmental Reports

Ivana Bacik

764. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the timeline for publishing the report on recommendations for standardised design of student accommodation in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16646/24]

Departmental Communications

Ivana Bacik

765. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the timeline for publishing the Action Plan in response to the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs report on modern methods of construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16650/24]

Student Accommodation

Ivana Bacik

766. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress on approving student accommodation schemes, in light of the approval of the long-term student accommodation policy approach; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16661/24]

Technological Universities

David Cullinane

262. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will permit technological universities the same borrowing privileges as National University of Ireland constituent colleges, in particular to access lower-cost funding for the construction of student accommodation, rather than being reliant on private development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15796/24]

Technological Universities

David Cullinane

263. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of the new engineering building for the South East Technological University; the reasons for the fifteen-year delay in the delivery of this project; the nature of complications which have been mentioned in relation to this project; when it is anticipated that this development will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15797/24]

Third Level Fees

Paul Murphy

264. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 179 of 21 February 2024, if he will ensure that the university accepts that the person should be on the Irish/EU rate since they first applied for IPO, and that the university accepts the €6,750 he paid as payment for his first and second year of the degree; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15803/24]

Public Sector Pay

Alan Kelly

265. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when it is intended to pay all employees in higher education institutions the recently agreed pay increase of 2.25% backdated to 1 January 2024; if he will ensure that sufficient funding is provided to HEIs to meet the increased pay costs; and if he will confirm that there will be no delay in paying the increased rate of pay at University College Cork and at TU Dublin despite the current financial difficulties being faced in these HEIs. [15881/24]

Third Level Education

Alan Kelly

266. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if all capital projects at University College Cork are currently subject to review by the HEA; and what start and completion dates are anticipated for the new Cork University Business School Building and the new Cork Dental School Building. [15882/24]

Third Level Education

Alan Kelly

267. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if University College Cork has submitted its 2022/2023 annual accounts to the Higher Education Authority; and when it is anticipated that the Annual Accounts will be published. [15883/24]

Third Level Education

Alan Kelly

268. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount of money paid by University College Cork to the UCC Academy in the financial year 2022/2023 for services provided. [15884/24]

Third Level Education

Alan Kelly

269. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total amount of money paid by University College Cork to off campus restaurants for hospitality for the financial year 2022/2023. [15885/24]

Third Level Education

Alan Kelly

270. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total amount of money paid by University College Cork for travel accommodation and subsistence for employees for the financial year 2022/2023. [15886/24]

Official Engagements

Catherine Murphy

187. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when he is next scheduled to meet the CEO of the Higher Education Authority. [15545/24]

Youth Services

Mick Barry

1674. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he plans to align the number of days per year in Youthreach with second level schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13621/24]

Education and Training Boards

Mick Barry

1675. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the ratio of pro rata teachers and resource persons for each of the 16 ETBs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13622/24]

Youth Services

Mick Barry

1676. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if Garda vetting is required for Youthreach students undertaking work placements/experience; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13623/24]

Youth Services

Mick Barry

1677. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to implement and direct Youthreach centres to deliver QQI modules that are work experience focused and guidelines on work placement for students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13624/24]

Youth Services

Mick Barry

1678. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will acknowledge that in Youthreach Centres students are allowed "movement breaks" as advocated by the National Council for Special Education NCSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13625/24]

Youth Services

Mick Barry

1679. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he accepts that students in Youthreach require midterm pedagogical breaks at least every six to seven weeks, as is the case in second level schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13626/24]

Youth Services

Mick Barry

1680. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science what actions he intends to take to address the massive imbalance in days of attendance (208) for Youthreach students in comparison to student attendance (166) in upper secondary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13627/24]