Written Answers Nos. 1-30
7. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will report on his recent visit to CERN; if he will provide an update on Ireland's CERN membership and CERN strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8127/25]
View answerI would like to thank the Deputy for his continued interest in and advocacy for Ireland's application for Membership of CERN which I am delighted to report is now coming to fruition.
I had a very successful visit to CERN in February when I met with the Director-General, Dr Fabiola Gianotti and other senior management. The Director-General shared her vision for the future of CERN, including plans for the progression of the Future Circular Collider project.
Both Dr Gianotti and Professor Mark Thomson, who will be the next Director-General from 2026, expressed the enthusiasm of the CERN community for the anticipated Irish scientific involvement in CERN's development at this key point in time.
I met senior researchers and Irish citizens working at CERN and viewed the facilities which are at the cutting edge of scientific endeavour.
My visit also coincided with that of a delegation from Ireland comprising representatives from Ireland's universities, technological universities, research funding agencies and enterprise agencies to build and enhance relationships with research teams at CERN and to scope potential opportunities arising from Ireland's membership.
As the Deputy will know, Ireland's application for Associate Membership was approved in principle by CERN Council in December. Ireland submitted a final draft Agreement for approval by the Council which is in session this week. In the event of a positive outcome to their deliberations, my Department will progress the national ratification process and join CERN as an Associate Member by early 2026, subject to Dáil approval. The immediate next step would be for Ireland and CERN to formally sign the agreement.
My Department is planning for the establishment later this year of a National Advisory Committee on CERN, including representatives from the education, research, and enterprise sectors. The group will develop a national strategy for CERN membership to maximise its benefits to Ireland.
14. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will intervene to ensure that adult education classes proceed this term through Cavan Monaghan ETB. [13717/25]
View answerI am sure that the Deputy will appreciate, as Minister, I have no role in the operational day-to-day running of Education and Training Boards (ETBs) as the scheduling and programming of courses is a matter for each individual ETB, subject to their available budget and local needs.
My Department has significantly increased its investment in further education and training by nearly €250 million in the years from 2020 to 2025. As the state agency responsible for the further education and training sector, SOLAS allocates this funding to 16 ETBs and other agencies to deliver FET programmes, based on agreed targets including learner numbers. It is the responsibility of each ETB to ensure that they align their activities and provision throughout the year with the funding allocated by SOLAS.
Cavan and Monaghan ETB have informed my Department that a wide range of adult education programmes are planned, and indeed already underway, in 2025. It envisages that there will be no reduction in the programmes on offer in 2025, subject to their allocation from SOLAS. In 2024, Cavan and Monaghan ETB Adult Education Services delivered over 700 programmes and it is planned to deliver a similar level of provision in 2025.
I understand that in 2024, Cavan and Monaghan ETB postponed or reduced some planned provision to remain within their overall budgetary allocation. My Department secured additional funding in the supplementary estimates which allowed Cavan and Monaghan ETB to recommence a certain number of courses.
15. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department has plans to ensure that more student accommodation in university towns such as Maynooth is made available for students in desperate need of it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14624/25]
View answerAs a short-term measure to address the challenges faced by students in accessing accommodation, the Government approved funding for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to activate projects with planning permission that had stalled due to cost and viability challenges.
The Maynooth University Student Accommodation project is being funded as part of this Short-term Activation Programme. The project is currently onsite, with 116 beds under construction with expected delivery for the 2025- 2026 academic year. Under this measure a percentage of the new beds are ringfenced for our target group of students; those considered most disadvantaged by the SUSI, NAP and DARE schemes.
In the new Student Accommodation Strategy, which is in development, I am seeking to both increase the supply of student accommodation to benefit students and also to free up private rental homes.
To achieve this, focus is centred on a combination of; increased uptake of digs accommodation, examination of vacant property, and the development and leasing of purpose-built student accommodation.
I will also examine sustainable transport alternatives to accommodation close to campus.
The objectives of the Strategy are to:
• increase the supply of state supported student accommodation
• reduce the cost of delivery through development of standardised design guidance
• promote efficient use of existing building stock through refurbishment and an examination of vacancy
• support balanced regional development through the Technological University (TU) Student Accommodation Programme
• promote digs accommodation
The outcome of the Standardised Design Study and the Technological University Student Accommodation Programme will provide a framework of delivery models and funding options to inform the new Strategy.
The reports from these studies are expected shortly.
I intend on delivering the Strategy later in Q2 2025.
16. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on the need to further incentivise teaching through Irish; if additional grants or scholarships could be considered for any prospective teacher pursuing that career; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14511/25]
View answerThe number of students admitted to primary concurrent and consecutive programmes in State-funded Higher Education Institutions is determined by the Minister for Education, based on teacher supply and demand, and available resources. My Department fully supports workforce planning by the Department of Education to ensure a steady supply of teachers, including those for Irish-language education.
Recognising the need to address teacher supply, the Government approved 610 additional places in primary education programmes for 2023 and 2024, including 30 extra places for Bachelor of Education through Irish. My Department continues to engage with higher education institutions to explore expanding Irish-language provision, supported by funding from the Higher Education Authority (HEA).
Through the HEA, my Department provides €900,000 annually for Irish-language initiatives in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). My Department also provides nearly €1.8m annually for the development of Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge in University of Galway, with additional funding from the Department of the Gaeltacht.
The Government is also investing in teacher recruitment and retention through measures such as the introduction of a €2,000 incentive for newly qualified teachers in 2024 and the promotion of flexibility in teacher education programmes. Furthermore, demand for primary teaching remains strong, with first preference CAO applications to primary and secondary teaching up by 9% and 5% respectively in February this year.
It should however be noted that HEIs are autonomous in their Irish language strategy, including the provision of university courses through the Irish language.
My Department continues to work closely with the Department of Education and other stakeholders to ensure that the necessary supports and incentives are in place to attract and retain teachers, including those teaching through Irish.
18. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will ensure that any additional financial support for students at further and higher education level are also made available to students from this State studying outside our jurisdiction, such as in Northern Ireland and in Britain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14303/25]
View answerIrish students who study in Northern Ireland, in EU member states and in Britain are entitled to certain supports provided by SUSI, subject to certain conditions which are set out in the Student Support Act, Student Grant Scheme & Student Support Regulations.
Such students are eligible for maintenance grants for undergraduate programmes across the EU and in Northern Ireland and Britain. In general, an approved undergraduate course in this context is defined as a full-time undergraduate course of not less than two years duration pursued in a university or third level institution, which is maintained or assisted by recurrent grants from public funds in another EU Member State or the UK.
The Act also provides for the payment of tuition fees for certain postgraduate programmes in Northern Ireland, but in general tuition fees are not provided for in other jurisdictions.
Students outside the State do benefit from certain additional supports which have been applied as part of a statutory scheme. For example, when SUSI Maintenance Grants were increased mid-year, eligible students studying abroad received the benefit of this uplift.
In some cases, however, the additional supports were specifically targeted at schemes which operate solely in the State. This is particularly the case with any supports provided under the Free Fees Scheme, which only applies to certain programmes, primarily in State funded institutions in this jurisdiction. The fees regimes operating in other jurisdictions are not encompassed by this Scheme.
This means that only students whose programmes are linked to the Free Fees Scheme can avail of measures such as the reduced student contribution which has been applied on a temporary basis in recent years as part of cost of living measures.
19. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to outline his Department’s efforts to increase and accelerate provision of student accommodation in Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13979/25]
View answerAs part of the Student Accommodation Short-Term Activation Programme, the University of Galway (UG) received approval to progress a leasing project for approximately 242 additional beds over 15 years. An assessment was commenced by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) as part of the due diligence process, however during the assessment the proposal was withdrawn by the vendor.
The University of Galway subsequently submitted a proposal for leasing of approximately 272 beds. The HEA commenced assessment of this alternative proposal. The HEA was informed by the University of Galway during the assessment, this proposal was also withdrawn by the vendor.
Separately, the University of Galway opened 674 new beds at Dunlin Village for the 2023/2024 academic year, and on Queen Street over 300 new beds are in development by the private sector supported by ISIF.
The Department will continue to engage with the University of Galway in relation to potential projects through the new Student Accommodation Strategy.
The strategy will include measures to increase the supply of student accommodation, reduce the cost of delivery through standardised design guidance and promote efficient use of existing building stock through refurbishment and an examination of vacancy, while supporting balanced regional development through a Technological University (TU) student accommodation programme.
The TU feasibility study is progressing in tandem with the Standardised Design study to enable a viable design model for state supported student accommodation based on regional needs and feasibility assessments.
The outcomes of these studies will provide a framework of delivery models and funding options which will be incorporated into the Long Term Student Accommodation Strategy which is due for publication in Q2 2025.
20. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress being made with the Colleges of the Future initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13985/25]
View answerThe Further Education and Training (FET) College of the Future Major Projects Fund was launched to address existing deficits in FET infrastructure, to support projects that drive reform of the FET sector and to facilitate consolidation and integration of further education and training.
In September 2024 following an evaluation process, six proposals met the relevant criteria and were approved to move to the next stage of development, the Pre-tender – Project Design, Planning and Procurement Strategy Stage. These were proposals from Cork ETB (Bishopstown), Cavan Monaghan ETB (Cavan Town), Kilkenny Carlow ETB (Kilkenny City), Kildare Wicklow ETB (Bray), Limerick Clare ETB (Newcastle West) & Tipperary ETB (Clonmel). SOLAS continues to engage with these six ETBs around further developing their proposals and associated schedules of accommodation. Work has also begun on the development of standardised procurement and tender documents as part of this stage of development.
The next round of evaluations under the Further Education and Training (FET) College of the Future Major Projects Fund is scheduled to take place during the first week of April 2025, where a further number of submitted business cases will be evaluated. A further evaluation will be convened later in the year for those ETBs who are unable to meet the April deadline.
The FET College of the Future Major Projects Fund is the first ever significant major capital programme call for the FET sector and I and my department remain committed to delivering these key projects for the sector.
21. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department plans to provide purpose-built student accommodation to alleviate pressures on the private rental market around universities and third level institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14381/25]
View answerWith the new Student Accommodation Strategy, which is in development, I am seeking to both increase the supply of student accommodation to benefit students and also free up private rental homes.
To achieve this, the focus is on a combination of digs accommodation, an examination of vacant property, and the development and leasing of purpose-built student accommodation.
I will also examine sustainable transport alternatives to accommodation close to campus.
The objectives of the Strategy are to:
• Increase the supply of state supported student accommodation
• Reduce the cost of delivery through development of standardised design guidance
• Promote efficient use of existing building stock through refurbishment and an examination of vacancy
• Support balanced regional development through a Technological University (TU) Student Accommodation Programme
• promote digs accommodation
The outcome of the Standardised Design Study and the Technological University Student Accommodation Programme will provide a framework of delivery models and funding options to inform the new Strategy. The reports from these studies are expected in early 2025.
I intend on delivering the Strategy later in Q2 2025.
Separately, the Maynooth University Student Accommodation project, which is bring funded as part of the Short term Activation Programme, is currently on site, with 116 beds under construction with expected deliver for 2025/2026 academic year.
22. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science following the recommendations in the National Review of State Supports for PhD Researchers, the plans to ensure that all PhD researchers, regardless of their funding source, receive at least €25,000 per annum stipend; his views on the issue of giving PhD researchers a worker status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14502/25]
View answerUnder Budget 2025, additional funding was announced for Research Ireland in order to increase its PhD stipend level to €25,000, i.e. an increase of over 31% in two years. This announcement builds on the increases secured under preceding Budgets, demonstrating my Department’s consistent focus and progress on this issue. It has come into effect from 1 January 2025.
In doing so, my Department has now implemented the recommendation of the independent review of State Supports for PhD researchers for an optimum stipend level of €25,000, subject to funding availability. That review exercise, announced in October 2022, is the first time that PhD provision in Ireland was so comprehensively reviewed.
For those PhD students in receipt of stipends from national competitive funding agencies outside the remit of my Department, the level of stipend awarded is at the discretion of each funder and its parent Department.
Institutional scholarship supports received by PhD students from their higher education institution are funded primarily by the core funding provided to the sector. The use of core funding is at the discretion of each higher education institution whose autonomy in this respect is established in legislation.
As part of Budget 2025, a National Training Fund funding package of nearly €1.5 billion over a six-year period was agreed for the tertiary sector. This includes €650m in a core funding package for the higher education institutions, to utilise as they deem appropriate consistent with the need to secure the most beneficial, effective and efficient use of those resources.
23. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when the interdepartmental group on student accommodation last meet; the remit of the group; and the steps it has taken since it was established. [13467/25]
View answerFollowing the publication in 2015 of the Higher Education Authority's report on Student Accommodation: Demand & Supply, the first inter-departmental working group on student accommodation was established. This group supported the development of the first national student accommodation strategy 2017-2024 and monitored its implementation. The Departments of Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Housing, Planning and Local Government participated on the group.
In preparation for the publication of the new student accommodation strategy this year, my Department has reconvened the inter-departmental working group on student accommodation. It is anticipated that the next meeting of the group will take place in April. The group serves as a formal forum for engagement on matters pertaining to student accommodation, with members providing expert advice on relevant issues, including, but not limited to, planning, development, housing, taxation, and tenancy matters.
The strategy will include measures to increase the supply of student accommodation, reduce the cost of delivery through standardised design guidance and promote efficient use of existing building stock through refurbishment and an examination of vacancy, while supporting balanced regional development through a Technological University student accommodation programme.
My Department maintains continuous engagement with all relevant Departments, and has undertaken extensive stakeholder consultation as part of the TU feasibility and standardised design studies and the annual HEA student survey, together with regular engagement with student representative bodies all of which will inform the development of the Long Term Student Accommodation Strategy.
24. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to outline plans to progress college places to assist in the workforce planning of disability services. [13715/25]
View answerThis government is prioritising workforce planning needs across health and disability services. My officials and I are working closely with other Departments to support workforce planning responses by creating additional places in areas of acute skills need, ensuring a pipeline of qualified graduates for our health and social care workforce.
I recently met with cabinet colleagues, the Minister for Health and Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, for a discussion on this topic and we are aligned in the need for expanding training places in therapy disciplines.
Last July my Department and the Department of Health, prepared a Joint memo for Government committing both Departments to prioritise funding for the expansion of key healthcare disciplines, including therapy disciplines. My officials have requested that the HEA examine expansion of places across existing therapy courses as a next step to increase provision, this will supported by a subsequent examination of new provision if required.
My Department has made significant progress in recent years providing nearly 1,000 additional places in health and social care programmes in Irish Universities. In addition, an agreement for ringfenced healthcare places in Ulster University and Queens University Belfast, in 2023 and 2024 is in place and is co-funded by the Department of Health, which has delivered a further 389 places over the past two years.
The delivery of these programmes is complex and requires multiple parts of the health and education systems working together. Guaranteed sustainable clinical placements and practice tutors are essential to expanding provision of student places and ensuring graduate output. I will continue to work with government colleagues to support healthcare and disability workforce planning needs through expansion of these vital programmes.
25. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures his Department is implementing to clear the backlog of apprentices awaiting completion of their training. [12498/25]
View answerCraft apprenticeships are a vital route to qualification and employment for the construction sector, and strong employer demand has led to a 34% increase in craft apprenticeship registrations since 2019, increasing from 5,300 in 2019 to 7,100 in 2024.
My Department continues to oversee the implementation of a priority plan put in place in November 2023 by the National Apprenticeship Office (NAO) to expand apprenticeship capacity and reduce apprentice waiting times for training.
As a result, I pleased to say that the number of craft apprentices waiting six months or longer for phase 2 off-the-job training has fallen by 79% since the implementation of the NAO plan – from 5,319 in October 2023 to 1,140 in February 2025.
To successfully remedy the issue, significant resources were invested in expanding the apprenticeship system.
Budget 2024 and Budget 2025 allocated an additional €67 million and €77 million respectively to apprenticeship delivery, bringing the total apprenticeship current budget to €339 million.
This investment enabled the recruitment of over 110 new apprentice instructor staff, and the conversion of over 80 instructors from fixed term to permanent contracts to support retention.
These measures have led to a 43% increase in craft training places in Education and Training Boards, rising from 5600 at the end of 2023 to some 8,000 in 2025.
My priority is to ensure craft training capacity meets skills needs now and into the future, and my Department has directed the NAO to implement a robust monitoring system for craft training capacity by trade.
26. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the shortage of places in a trade sector (details supplied); the actions he will take to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14505/25]
View answerA priority for my department remains the continued growth of the national apprenticeship system to meet Ireland’s skills needs now and into the future.
Pipefitting is a craft apprenticeship programme that takes 4 years to complete, with off-the-job training phases delivered through Education Training Boards (ETBs) and Technological Universities (TUs).
Munster Technological University (MTU) is currently the sole provider of phase 6 off-the-job training for pipefitting at its Bishopstown campus.
At the end of February 2025 there were 414 pipefitting apprentices nationally, of which two were waiting for phase 6 off-the-job training.
SOLAS have advised that these two apprentices completed their phase 5 on-the-job training within the last four to five weeks, at which point they joined the national waiting list for phase 6 training, and that these apprentices are not currently delayed in their training.
In response to increased demand, MTU has boosted its capacity to deliver phase six pipefitting training from 32 places in 2019 to 48 in 2024.
In 2024 a small team of lecturers equating to two to three whole time equivalents delivered three intakes of pipefitting training with 16 apprentices in each intake.
In 2025 there is capacity to continue delivering 48 pipefitting phase 6 training places.
MTU are actively working with SOLAS to monitor training capacity and ensure sufficient supply of apprenticeship training places.
27. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on the veterinary and pharmacy courses at SETU. [14633/25]
View answerAs was announced in 2024, a Master of Pharmacy and a Veterinary Medicine degree in South East Technological University have been recommended for progression under the HEA Expression of Interest process. It is anticipated that these programmes will have their first intake in September 2026, with up to 40 students on each programme. Engagement with the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland and Veterinary Council of Ireland is ongoing in relation to professional accreditation of these new programmes.
The introduction of these programmes is significant both for the south east region and nationally. The programmes will help to meet the skills demands of the veterinary and healthcare sectors and contribute to the retention and development of the vibrant agricultural and pharma industry base in the region.
As you can appreciate delivery of these programmes is complex. Regulatory and curricular approval, staffing, equipment and laboratory facilities must be in place before they can be opened for application. Admissions criteria and entry routes will be determined by the Universities and will be published when the programmes open for application.
SETU has a strong track record of undergraduate education and research activity in disciplines such as Agricultural Science, Animal Health and Welfare, Food Science, Biosciences, Molecular Biology, Pharmaceutical Science and Healthcare, and I am very pleased to see that they are building on this expertise as they provide opportunities for students in the region to train veterinarians and pharmacists.
28. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the work being done to ensure the most efficient use of further and higher education facilities, including, for example, at night and weekends; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14618/25]
View answerHigher Education Institutions are autonomous bodies who regulate their own administrative and academic affairs, including in relation to issues such as timetabling and usage of space.
My Department supports Further and Higher Education Institutions in delivering courses which are flexible to suit learners needs, whether full time, part time, evening or weekend. Many HEIs already provide learning opportunities at evenings and weekends.
A variety of methods are used by Education and Training Boards and Higher Education Institutes to manage facility utilisation rates. SOLAS and the HEA work closely with these institutions to ensure facilities are used to their fullest potential. For example, the HEA funded an asset utilisation survey in the academic years 2023-24 and 2024-25, to help individual Higher Education Institutions better understand their own building usage during the working day. A report on this survey is expected to be published, later this year. Robust examination of learner demand analysis and consideration against space requirements is undertaken for all Further and Higher Education Project work as part of the appraisal process of applications.
My Department is committed to providing diverse and flexible education pathways that meet the needs of individuals, employers, and society. This includes expanding options for individuals to avail of learning outside of traditional full-time education. Some of the initiatives to support this include Springboard+, Micro-credentials and the Student Part-Time Fee Scheme for Specified Undergraduate Courses.
29. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science given that he has committed to publishing a new student accommodation strategy in Q2 of 2025, when the new strategy will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14565/25]
View answerIn the new Student Accommodation Strategy, which is in development, my focus will be on increasing the supply of student accommodation to benefit both students, and free up private rental homes.
I will focus on a combination of digs accommodation, examination of vacant property, and the development and leasing of purpose-built student accommodation.
I will also examine sustainable transport alternatives to accommodation close to campus.
The objectives of the Strategy are to:
• increase the supply of state supported student accommodation
• reduce the cost of delivery through development of standardised design guidance
• promote efficient use of existing building stock through refurbishment and an examination of vacancy
• support balanced regional development through a Technological University (TU) Student Accommodation Programme
• promote digs accommodation
The outcome of the Standardised Design Study and a Technological University Student Accommodation Programme will provide a framework of delivery models and funding options to inform the new Strategy. The reports from these studies are expected shortly.
I intend on delivering the Strategy later in Q2 2025.
30. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update on the progress of the review of personal assistance services funded from the fund for students with disabilities across tertiary education settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13984/25]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, my Department increased the hourly rate of pay for personal assistants by 43%, bringing the rate from €14 per hour to €21 per hour, plus 8% holiday pay in response to discussions between a representative group of personal assistants and the former Minister in my Department, Tánaiste Simon Harris.
In 2024, FÓRSA submitted a claim to the Workplace Relations Commission regarding the pay and conditions for personal assistants. I'm pleased to report that several key aspects of the claim have been resolved, including the confirmation that qualifying personal assistants should be awarded Contracts of Indefinite Duration, in line with current employment law, as well as clarifications around entitlements to sick leave and holiday pay. However, the conciliation process is still ongoing. I’m sure the Deputy will agree that it’s important to respect the established industrial relations mechanisms in place to address these matters.
In line with the Programme for Government’s commitment to a step change in the supports and services required by people with disabilities, my Department is currently undertaking work to examine how best a person-centred support model for learners with disabilities can be developed across further and higher education.
This pilot project is intended to inform future policy development to better support learners with disabilities in the tertiary education sector. Any specific further review of personal assistant services would be subject to the outcome of this wider project and the Workplace Relations Commission conciliation process.
