Parliamentary questions

Student Accommodation

Mairéad Farrell

1. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress being made with regard to student accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23472/24]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Mairéad Farrell

3. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress being made with regard to the current challenges in the apprenticeship system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23473/24]

Student Visas

Gary Gannon

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

Student Accommodation

Mairéad Farrell

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

Education Costs

Richard Boyd Barrett

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

Further and Higher Education

Brendan Smith

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

Artificial Intelligence

Richard Bruton

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

Further and Higher Education

David Stanton

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

Nursing Education

Rose Conway-Walsh

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

Dental Services

David Stanton

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

Further and Higher Education

Pádraig O'Sullivan

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

Further and Higher Education

Ruairí Ó Murchú

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

Third Level Education

Seán Canney

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

Apprenticeship Programmes

Mairéad Farrell

205. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 5 of 27 February 2024 (details supplied), if he can confirm how much of the €67 million in additional funding that was provided for the apprenticeship system was allocated toward the national recruitment campaign of craft apprentice instructors; the number of instructors hired to date; can he provide a breakdown of the course areas they are instructing on (i.e., electrical, plumbing, carpentry, etc.); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23031/24]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Mairéad Farrell

206. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if specific targets have been set for the national recruitment campaign to hire an additional 100 craft apprentice instructors per ETB; if so, the number of instructors it is hoped to hire per ETB; the areas of teaching that is, electrical, carpentry and so on, they will be engaged in, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23040/24]

Employment Rights

Joe Flaherty

207. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if adult literacy tutors that opt not to convert to adult educator under the terms of the new contract being offered by the Department will maintain their current entitlement to sign on for unemployment benefit during periods when they are not timetabled to deliver courses in the adult literacy service run by education and training boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23049/24]

Education Policy

Aindrias Moynihan

208. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the engagement he has had directly with secondary schools in promoting traditional trades and apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23079/24]

Student Accommodation

Aindrias Moynihan

209. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures he is taking to ensure sufficient supply of student accommodation for third level students for 2024/2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23080/24]

Departmental Funding

Aindrias Moynihan

210. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an increase in funding to third level institutions under the student assistance fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23081/24]

Public Sector Pay

Michael Creed

211. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware of an anomaly with regard to staff employed at a location (details supplied) regarding apprenticeship education; if he accepts that the principle of equal pay and allowances for equal work should apply in respect of all staff doing the same work; if, in the circumstances, he can indicate how this issue might be satisfactorily addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23095/24]

Public Sector Pay

Jennifer Whitmore

212. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware that subsistence paid to further education and training staff working as external authenticators is subject to tax, that tax does not apply to the same subsistence paid to staff engaged directly by the State Examinations Commission; the reason for the disparity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23143/24]

Grant Payments

Louise O'Reilly

213. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 701 of 23 April 2024, to provide further detail in relation to the upcoming roll-out of the SUSI grant pilot scheme for part-time courses; the number of courses that will be eligible for the scheme; which courses or range of courses will be covered; when the scheme will open for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23147/24]

Education and Training Boards

Paul Donnelly

214. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science how many instructors are employed by Dublin-Dún Laoghaire Education Training Board to conduct cybersecurity associate level 6 apprenticeship training in the years of 2022, 2023 and to-date in 2024, in tabular form.
[23242/24]

Capital Expenditure Programme

Paul Donnelly

215. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the 2023 and 2024 Capital Budget allocation to the Higher Education Authority for works projects under the higher education capacity building process; and the amount and percentage of the 2023 Capital Budget allocation that was actually spent. [23243/24]

Public Sector Pay

Holly Cairns

216. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if there exists a discrepancy in how travel and subsistence payments are taxed for those carrying out examinations as part of FET, as compared with those working for the State Examinations Commission; and if so, to provide a reasoning for these arrangements. [23283/24]

Public Sector Pay

Holly Cairns

217. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of FET examiners currently available to carry out examinations; and to provide a numerical list of available examiners between 2021 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [23284/24]

Education Schemes

Michael Creed

648. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason a HEAR grant application (details supplied) has been turned down; if his Department was aware of the personal circumstances of the applicant when refusing the grant and if the case will be reviewed. [22931/24]

Education Schemes

Michael Creed

649. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the range of assistance available for a student at third level (details supplied). [22932/24]

Medical Qualifications

Brendan Howlin

650. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 318 of 2 May 2024, if it is his intention, in conjunction with the Minister for Health, to develop a strategic plan to provide the optimum number of healthcare professionals, including dentistry, to serve in the health service; if such a strategy would take account of the number of non-Irish students trained in healthcare in Irish universities who intend to return to their home country after graduation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22354/24]

Grant Payments

Cian O'Callaghan

651. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason SUSI will only reassess an applicant moving applicant class dependent to independent student after there is a three year break in studies, where that student is a mature student and living independently from their parents or guardians; does this policy discourage movement from level 8 to masters study; if this policy will be reconsidered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22381/24]

Grant Payments

Cian O'Callaghan

652. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if SUSI has altered their independent living criteria to account for people availing of the rent-a-room scheme where they cannot provide the current necessary proof of residence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22382/24]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

653. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of new apprenticeship registrations in 2023 and to date in 2024, by type and by year in tabular form. [22422/24]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

654. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of apprenticeship completions between 2014 and 2024, by type and by year in tabular form. [22423/24]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

655. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of apprenticeship dropouts between 2014 and 2024 by level of completion, by type and by year in tabular form. [22424/24]

Medical Qualifications

Peadar Tóibín

656. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of places for medical students in Irish universities for each of the past ten years; and how many of these are used for international students. [22467/24]

Nursing Education

Peadar Tóibín

657. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of places for student nurses in Irish universities for each of the past ten years; and how many of these are used for international students. [22469/24]

Third Level Fees

Francis Noel Duffy

658. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of further reducing third level fees to €1,000 in 2024-2025, and subsequently abolish these fees in 2025-2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22577/24]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Francis Noel Duffy

659. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the cost of abolishing the contribution fee for apprenticeships in higher education in the 2024/2025 academic year. [22578/24]

Departmental Funding

Mairéad Farrell

660. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide a breakdown of the allocations from budget 2024 to the various universities of the student hardship fund, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22601/24]

Education and Training Boards

Catherine Murphy

661. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount provided to each education and training board, ETB, for Youthreach programmes in 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024. [22615/24]

Qualifications Recognition

Seán Sherlock

662. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science what systems have been put in place to recognise the medical and other professional qualifications of Ukrainian nationals living here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22619/24]

Qualifications Recognition

Seán Sherlock

663. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science what systems have been put in place to recognise the medical and other professional qualifications of IP applicants who have been successful in their applications or those who have been granted leave to remain here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22620/24]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Third Level Costs

Claire Kerrane

666. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if there are any grants outside of SUSI for a student sitting a masters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21197/24]

Further and Higher Education

Ged Nash

667. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware of the anomaly faced by 60 students attending Ballyfermot College of Further Education who, despite attending classes for a BA honours degree in animation and visual media from Monday to Thursday, on a weekly basis, have their course designated as part-time and therefore not entitled to a SUSI grant; what plans he has to address this anomaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21683/24]

Third Level Education

John Paul Phelan

668. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on the practice in some third level institutions whereby students are automatically signed up as members of the students' union upon enrolment at the institution; his views on whether this arrangement is in accordance with the freedom of association guaranteed in the Constitution; whether current legislation provides adequate protections for students in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21298/24]

Education and Training Boards

Paul Kehoe

669. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he or officials within his Department are aware of a document (details supplied); the steps he will take to address staff retention issues identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21300/24]

Departmental Strategies

Pádraig O'Sullivan

670. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science how his Department plans to promote continuous lifelong training for all; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21319/24]

Departmental Strategies

Pádraig O'Sullivan

671. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science how his Department plans to support skills related to both green and digital transition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21320/24]

Qualifications Recognition

Pádraig O'Sullivan

672. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department plans to strengthen the system of mutual recognition of professional qualifications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21322/24]

Further and Higher Education

Cormac Devlin

673. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science is he is aware of a situation (details supplied). [21389/24]

Education Policy

Violet-Anne Wynne

674. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps being taken to tackle the stigma associated with level 4 certificates, the Leaving Certificate Applied, community training and Youthreach centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21457/24]

Student Accommodation

Violet-Anne Wynne

675. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware that students are choosing college courses based on accommodation shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21462/24]

Further and Higher Education

Richard Boyd Barrett

676. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures that will be taken to improve the protection of students' and postgraduate researchers' right and freedom to protest in a peaceful manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21590/24]

Further and Higher Education

Richard Boyd Barrett

677. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures that will be taken to condemn Trinity College Dublin's threats of disciplinary hearings, fines and expulsion to individual members of the democratically elected TCD Students' Union and Postgraduate Workers' Organisation, and a €214,000 fine issued to the TCD Students' Union, in response to peaceful student protests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21591/24]

Further and Higher Education

Richard Boyd Barrett

678. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to clarify the future measures that will be taken to protect individuals within a students' or researchers' union from being singled out or targeted by senior staff with disciplinary threats in response to action taken by the union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21592/24]

Third Level Education

Carol Nolan

679. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount of funding provided by Ireland to the EU's Erasmus programme, from 2014 to date, in tabular form; the amount of funding Ireland has received from the programme during the corresponding period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21670/24]

Employment Rights

Ged Nash

680. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if any State, semi-State or commercial semi-State agency under the aegis of their Department is aware of any cases of bogus self-employment in any bodies under their remit from 2020 to 1 May 2024; if they will outline if there are currently any cases from such agencies or bodies currently before the SCOPE section of the Department of Social Protection for investigation or determination; if there are any SCOPE findings and recommendations relating to any agencies or bodies under their remit where SCOPE has found in favour of the worker, and where they recommended the reclassification of the workers’ employment status to that of direct employee between 2020 and 1 May 2024; if they will provide information on the numbers involved and the names of the individual agencies and bodies in all cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21693/24]

International Bodies

Louise O'Reilly

681. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if Ireland will be joining the European Infrastructure for Translational Medicine. [21717/24]

Further and Higher Education

Mairéad Farrell

682. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 321 of 2 May 2024, how the Dún Laoghaire Further Education Institute, which is neither an ETB or TU, provides off-the-job training for craft apprentices (details supplied); if he is satisfied that ETBs and TUs cover the entire population of craft apprentice instructors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21784/24]

Departmental Advertising

Carol Nolan

683. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total costs incurred by his Department from 2019 to date relating to the placing of advertisements in print media; the names of the print media publications involved, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21866/24]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Imelda Munster

684. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of new apprentices in each of the ETBs in the State in each of the years 2021, 2022 and 2023, if possible divided under the headings craft and consortia, in tabular form. [21876/24]

Third Level Staff

Róisín Shortall

685. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if funding will be provided for the necessary clinical tutor posts to honour a previous commitment to provide five additional places on the radiation therapy programme in Trinity College Dublin; if not, the reason this commitment will not be fulfilled for the 2024/25 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21885/24]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]