Written Answers Nos. 897-913
897. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for a detailed breakdown of funding allocations for Quality and Qualifications Ireland for 2024, 2025 and 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56844/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of the funding allocation to QQI for 2024 and 2025 is available under the Revised Estimates Volume voted by the Oireachtas. I include a link to this information for your convenience: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-public-expenditure-infrastructure-public-service-reform-and-digitalisation/collections/the-revised-estimates-volumes-for-the-public-service/.
The funding allocation for 2026 will be agreed as part of the 2026 Revised Estimates Volume which will be voted by the Oireachtas in due course.
898. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the redress available to a person (details supplied) who appealed their leaving certificate results and then had enough points to qualify for their first choice university course, but were precluded due to the time involved in the appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56845/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder legislation, higher education institutions (HEIs), such as universities, have autonomy in relation to their admissions. Irish HEIs utilise the CAO, a non-profit private company, to centrally and impartially manage the admissions processes and instruct the CAO to make offers on their behalf to applicants. Neither I nor my Department has a role in matters relating to these processes, or in intervening in individual admissions cases.
I would, however, encourage the student and their family to continue to engage directly with the Admissions Offices in the university of interest, which is best placed to advise on possible admissions options. It should be noted that the CAO handbook states that if an applicant is deemed entitled to a place on a course based on their upgraded Leaving Certificate results they will receive an offer. However, if all of the places for that course have already been allocated, they will receive a deferral of the offer for the following academic year. The decision to offer a place is made by the HEI in question and not the CAO.
It should also be noted that the Leaving Certificate appeals process is the responsibility of the State Examinations Commission (SEC). The date of issue of the appeal results, five weeks after the date of issue of the Leaving Certificate results, has been designed to integrate with the final round of the CAO process. This follows discussions in 2019 between the Department of Education, the SEC and representatives of Higher Education when seeking to shorten the timeframe from the previous eight week period.
Students who are uncertain about their next steps should not be discouraged, as many options remain open to them. Supports are available from websites such as www.careersportal.ie.
899. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of WTE senior application specialist at the grade of higher executive officer level within the Department in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [56884/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Education and Youth provides an ICT shared service to my department. All staff working within the ICT unit are employed by the Department of Education and Youth (DoY). Consequently, there are no application specialists at the HEO grade employed directly by my department.
900. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide the Abridged Estimates Volume for Budget 2026 for Vote 45, including the provisional sub head and programme level allocations. [56931/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Abridged Estimates Volume for Vote 45 is published as part of the Budget 2026 Expenditure Report. Page 208 of this report outlines the provisional 2026 programme allocations for my Department. Details of allocations at subhead level will be available in the 2026 Revised Estimates Volume which will be published by the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform in due course.
901. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount allocated for the reduction of the student contribution in Budget 2026; and the amount that was allocated for reduction of the student contribution in 2025. [56936/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of Budget 2026, I am introducing a permanent reduction of €500 in the Student Contribution charge for the current academic year. This flat rate reduction will reduce the rate from €3,000 to €2,500.
This is the first permanent cut since free fees were introduced in 1995. It will benefit around 108,000 undergraduate students and 14,000 apprentices, who will see up to a 17% pro-rata reduction.
The Deputy will be aware that I published An Annual Options Paper on Reducing the Cost of Educationin September. Details of various costed options are included in this paper, including the cost of permanently reducing the student contribution by €500. This paper estimated the net cost of this Budget 2026 measure at €52.9m. This is the net cost after allowing for savings that will accrue on the SUSI grant scheme. The pro rata reduction for apprentices is estimated to cost a further €2.5m.
Funding was not provided to my Department to reduce the student contribution in 2025. However, funding was provided, via the supplementary estimates process, to apply a temporary cost of living reduction in 2024 for the academic year 2024/25. The net cost of the temporary student contribution reduction in Budget 2025 was estimated to be €99m. This was the net cost after allowing for savings that would accrue on the SUSI grant scheme. The pro rata temporary reduction for apprentices was estimated to cost a further €4.7m.
902. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of craft and non-craft apprenticeship registrations in 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025. [56937/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraSupported by significant government investment, annual apprenticeship registrations have grown strongly in recent years from 6,177 in 2019 to 9,352 in 2024. This 51% increase provides a strong foundation for achieving the target of 12,500 annual apprentice registrations by the end of 2030.
Year to date to September of this year, there have been 6,676 apprenticeship registrations. It should be noted that in 2024 the last four months of the year were the strongest period for apprenticeship registrations, with 45% of all registrations for the year taking place in this period.
The numbers of craft and consortia apprenticeship registrations in 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025 are provided in tabular form below.
|
Year |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 (year to date to end September) |
|
Total number of apprenticeship registrations |
6,717 |
8,712 |
9,352 |
6,676 |
|
Craft Apprenticeship registrations |
4,922 |
6,588 |
7,113 |
4,990 |
|
Consortia Apprenticeship registrations |
1,795 |
2,124 |
2,239 |
1,686 |
With the significant investment in Budget 2026 bringing the total funding for apprenticeship to over €410 million - a 123% increase since 2020 - a strong foundation has been laid for the 12,500 target and support national infrastructure projects.
903. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount of additional craft and non-craft apprenticeship places funded in Budget 2026, for the year 2026; and the allocation for those additional places in Budget 2026. [56938/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe apprenticeship system takes a demand-led, employer-driven approach to meeting workforce and skill requirements in our economy. As such, the demand for and number of apprentices is significantly influenced by employers in any given sector. The Government remains firmly committed to apprenticeships and has significantly expanded opportunities for learners in recent years, recognising their vital role in equipping Ireland’s workforce with the skills needed to meet national priorities, including infrastructure delivery.
Annual craft apprenticeship registrations have risen 63% from 4,377 in 2020, the year in which my department was formed, to 7,113 in 2024. In the same period Consortia-led registrations have grown from 949 to 2,239. The additional €79 million investment in apprenticeship delivery secured in Budget 2026 will directly support the continued growth of the apprenticeship system to support this demand.
Building on this progress, next year we will launch the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2026–2030, setting a target to increase annual apprentice registrations from 9,352 in 2024 to 12,500 by 2030. Stakeholder consultations on the new Plan are scheduled to commence shortly.
With the significant investment in Budget 2026 bringing the total funding for apprenticeship to over €400 million, a strong foundation has been laid to achieve the 12,500 target and support national infrastructure projects.
SOLAS is the State Agency responsible for the provision of further education and training (FET) programmes including apprenticeships. SOLAS allocates funding to Education and Training Boards and partners to deliver FET programmes at a local level, based on agreed targets linked to local and industry needs. It is the responsibility of each ETB to plan and deliver its services throughout the year, taking into account their allocated budgets and the specific needs of their local communities in line with its functions set out in the Education and Training Board Act of 2013.
904. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount allocated in total from the Budget 2026 for existing levels of service in his Department. [56939/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Parliamentary Budget Office defines Existing Levels of Service (“ELS”) funding as, how much money is required by Departments to continue providing services at the same level if there were no new policy decisions and includes:
• Carryover costs from previous year’s budget decisions;
• Demographic pressures, including increased costs of providing existing services to a growing and changing population; and
• Existing central public service pay deals.
Budget 2026 allocated a further €221 million for existing levels of service to my Department. This builds upon the overall core current ELS allocation of €3.83 billion from 2025.
905. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on the designated beds ringfenced for students from target groups as identified in the National Action Plan, specifically for DCU 405 beds project, UCD 493 students accommodation beds; and if there will be any more funding from his Department allocated for student accommodation. [56940/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Short-Term Activation Programme, €100 million in capital funding was allocated to Higher Education Institutions with Purpose-Built Student Accommodation projects that had secured planning permission but had stalled due to viability challenges. DCU’s 405 student accommodation beds project and UCD 493 student accommodation beds project are part of this Programme.
As part of the funding conditions under the Short Term Accommodation Programme, a proportion of the new student beds will be ringfenced for students from target groups identified in the National Access Plan. These designated beds will be offered at a reduced rental rate to support access to higher education for underrepresented and disadvantaged students.
The Department will continue to engage with Higher Education Institutions in relation to further potential projects as part of its new Long Term Student Accommodation Strategy.
The strategy (2025- 2035) which is due for completion later this year will include measures to increase the supply of student accommodation, improve the delivery efficiency through standardised design guidance and promote efficient use of existing building stock through refurbishment, while supporting balanced regional development through a Technological University (TU) student accommodation programme.
With regards to funding most recently, in my Budget 2026 speech I drew attention to the 30,000 students who will get more support when living or travelling away from home under a measure to increase the SUSI non-adjacent payments by between €200–€430 from September 2026, with a pro-rata increase this academic year. This will help students who live 30km or more from their college campus with the cost of rent, travel, and day-to-day living.
906. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on his Department’s commissioned research into the landscape of apprentice pay; to ask when he expects this final report to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56984/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra907. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update from SOLAS regarding The National Apprenticeship Office’s commissioning of an independent economic assessment to incentivise participation in national apprenticeships by both employers and apprentices, drawing on international practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56985/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 906 and 907 together.
The Government is strongly committed to growing and strengthening Ireland’s apprenticeship system, as set out in the Programme for Government and the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021–2025. This commitment is already delivering results: supported by sustained investment, the system has seen significant growth in recent years. Annual craft apprenticeship registrations have increased from 4,377 in 2020 to 7,113 in 2024, while consortia-led registrations have more than doubled, from 949 to 2,239.
Building on this momentum, I am committed to further growing apprenticeship opportunities in the next Action Plan for Apprenticeship which is planned for publication in 2026, with a target of reaching 12,500 total craft and non-craft annual registrations by 2030. Achieving this ambition will require continued focus on incentivising participation. The Government is supporting both employers and apprentices through a range of financial and non-financial measures designed to make engagement with apprenticeship more accessible and attractive.
Two reports on incentives - one commissioned by the National Apprenticeship Office and another by my Department - will inform the development of the next Action Plan for the period 2026–2030. The report commissioned by the NAO has not been completed and the work will be reviewed by the NAO in the coming months. Regarding the research commissioned by my Department, a draft has been completed and is currently under consideration. These insights will help shape a responsive apprenticeship system for current and future challenges. A public consultation on the next Action Plan will be launched shortly, and I look forward to hearing from stakeholders across the system.
908. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the details of the vacant buildings owned by his Department or by agencies under the remit of his Department in Dublin 2, 4, 6, and 6W, including, the address and size in square meters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57112/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department does not have any vacant buildings under its ownership or control within Dublin 2, 4, 6 and 6W.
The Department's official locations are all sites owned and/or operated by the OPW in St. Stephen's Green, Marlborough Street and Tullamore.
The information in respect of aegis bodies, within the scope of the Deputy’s question, is not held by my Department. Contact details for these bodies are set out in the attached document, should the Deputy wish to contact the aegis bodies directly with their query.
909. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the details of all reports, including consultancy reports commissioned by his Department from 1 January 2024 to date in 2025, that could be categorised as not for external publication or marked for internal use only; the cost of each report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57292/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department publishes its annual consultancy spend on the Department website.
Please find a copy of the link to the Department's consultancy spent is available here: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-further-and-higher-education-research-innovation-and-science/organisation-information/department-consultancy-spending/.
The Deputy will note the names of companies whose services were procured and the costs spent in each year. The website also states whether any reports commissioned were for either publication and/or for internal use within the Department.
The Deputy should note that the publications are currently recorded up to 2023.
2024 figures will be published online by the end of October.
Consultancy spend is published in arrears annually, in line with the accounts process.
DFHERIS has now taken ownership of recording departmental consultancy spend, as part of the transfer of functions from the Department of Education.
We would plan to publish 2025 Consultancy Spend by the end of Q1 2026.
Expenditure on external consultancy and adviser fees is not separately disclosed in the Department’s Financial Statements as there is no obligation to do so.
The procurement of such services has been conducted by my Department in compliance with the applicable public procurement regulations and competitive tendering requirements, in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Office of Government Procurement OGP and relevant EU and national legislation.
910. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of people accessing apprenticeships each year since 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57351/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAnnual apprenticeship registrations have grown strongly in recent years, increasing from 5,326 in 2020 to 9,352 in 2024.
This growth has been supported by significant government investment in apprenticeship delivery since my department was formed in 2020. To ensure an adequate pipeline of skilled apprentices to support government targets on housing and infrastructure development, an additional €79 million has been invested in the apprenticeship system in Budget 2026, bringing the total current budget for apprenticeship to over €410 million. This represents a significant increase of 123% in apprenticeship funding since 2020.
The numbers of yearly new apprentice registrations in each full year from 2020 to 2024 are provided in tabular form below.
|
Year |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
No of Registrations |
5,326 |
8,607 |
6,717 |
8,712 |
9,352 |
911. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will review the case of a person (details supplied); if the decision regarding their SUSI application can be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57383/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraArticle 22 of the Student Grant Scheme 2025 sets out for the awarding authority the determination of reckonable income. Reckonable income shall be determined by the awarding authority on the basis of information supplied in the application form and other relevant information and documentary evidence supplied. In calculating reckonable income, the awarding authority shall consider income from all sources.
In this case, SUSI have advised that during a review of the application for student grant funding on 29 September 2025, information obtained through a data sharing arrangement with Revenue showed an open employment for all three parties to the application. SUSI requested a completed Current Annual Salary form for the applicant and both of their parents on 2 October 2025. Documents were submitted by the student on 8 October 2025 and are currently awaiting review by SUSI’s assessment team.
The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine.
912. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will review the case of a person (details supplied); if the decision regarding their SUSI application can be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57414/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine.
Article 22 of the Student Grant Scheme 2025 sets out for the awarding authority the determination of reckonable income. Reckonable income shall be determined by the awarding authority on the basis of information supplied in the application form and other relevant information and documentary evidence supplied. In calculating reckonable income, the awarding authority shall consider income from all sources whether it arises in the State or not. For the purposes of determining the reckonable income of an applicant, overtime payments earned in the reference period that are not recurring payments shall be deducted.
An official from my Department has advised that the student referred to by the Deputy was awarded the Non-Adjacent Band 2 Part Maintenance rate of grant, together with 100% rate of Student Contribution or 100% Tuition Fees, whichever applies and were advised of this by letter 16 September 2025.
The student submitted an appeal request on 7 October 2025, on the grounds that their mother’s income from employment in 2024 would not recur in the future. Documents submitted with the appeal were deemed sufficient to confirm that a portion of her total income from employment in 2024 was from non-recurring overtime and could be deducted from the total household reckonable income. The total income was re-calculated which made the applicant eligible for the Full Non-Adjacent Standard Maintenance rate of grant, together with 100% rate of Student Contribution or 100% Tuition Fees, whichever applies.
A letter advising the student of the Appeal’s Officer’s decision to award an improved rate of grant was sent to the student on 15 October 2025.
913. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount expended on the build back home campaign to include a schedule of online, broadcast, print dissemination and individuals used to promote the campaign; the countries into which the campaign was delivered; the associated design and consultancy costs to include supplier; duration it is envisaged to run the campaign; the overall allocated budget committed to the campaign; and if other State bodies or Departments have been utilised for the campaign . [57423/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland needs people with construction skills and experience to help deliver on ambitious targets for new housing and infrastructure. A recent report (www.gov.ie/en/department-of-further-and-higher-education-research-innovation-and-science/publications/an-update-to-the-report-on-the-analysis-of-skills-for-residential-construction-and-retrofitting/.) by the Department shows a need for between 69,000-79,000 construction sector workers up to 2030 (the range is dependent on the methods of construction widely applied to projects).
My Department is leading on a number of initiatives to address the skills gap in construction, including Build Back Home, a campaign aimed at Irish construction workers abroad who are considering returning home.
In advance of planning the Build Back Home campaign, the Department carried out market research in the UK, Canada, New Zealand and Australia with Irish construction workers to discover their motivations for moving abroad and the barriers to returning home.
The research found that after two years abroad, life can become difficult, visas are hard to renew, friends they travelled out with move on, and it is as hard to buy and rent in major cities (Vancouver, Toronto, Sydney, Melbourne) as it is in Ireland. They are seeing friends at home settle down.
The research also revealed that Irish workers abroad are aware of a pipeline of significant construction opportunities back home, in both the public and private sector, and crucially want to work on these projects - the recent review of the National Development plan signals a guaranteed pipeline of major infrastructure projects into the medium-term.
Irish workers abroad want to be part of this. However, they are afraid that their overseas experience will not be valued and that too much red tape will make life admin difficult.
Yet, the research found many are still deciding they want to bring their significant experience to growing Ireland and growing their hometown.
The Build Back Home campaign aims to accelerate that decision, while also dispelling many of the myths around the barriers to moving back home, and to reassure that the experience they gained abroad will be valued upon their return.
The campaign ran for two weeks in October 2024 in Canada and Australia. It will run for four weeks this October in Canada, Australia and the US, targeting Irish workers abroad. The costs associated with the campaign are detailed below.
|
|
Supplier |
2024 |
2025 |
|
Market Research |
MCCP |
€61,439 |
€33,449 |
|
Production spend - Ad Campaign |
Javelin |
€63,684 |
€36,853 |
|
Production spend - testimonials |
Zinc Design |
- |
€6,753 |
|
Media spend - Canada & Australia Total Allocated as follows: Out of Home Online (digital & social media)
- Canada, Australia & US Allocated as follows: Online (digital & social media) |
PHD Media
Spark Foundry
|
€41,766
44% 56%
|
€200,000
100%
|
|
Total spend |
|
€166,889 |
€277,055 |
No individuals are being used to promote the campaign.
Funding for the campaign is provided by the Department of the Taoiseach under the Housing for All Implementation Fund.
