Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 March 2026
463. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the main policy achievements of his Department since 22 January 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23078/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is responsible for more than 60 commitments under the Programme for Government. The following are key policy achievements announced since 22nd January 2025, which will go towards achieving those commitments.
Making Education More Affordable
• Providing the first permanent €500 reduction in the student contribution fee since free fees were introduced in 1995.
• Securing a Budget 2026 allocation which will allow for the expansion of SUSI eligibility and increase maintenance supports.
Expanding Places in High-Demand Courses
• Over 340 extra places added in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, physiotherapy, and veterinary medicine.
• 17 new tertiary degree programmes approved for 2025/26.
• Announcement of a €28.5 million investment in 2026, enabling higher education institutions to deliver over 1,100 new healthcare course places each year over the next three years.
Investing in Infrastructure
• €4.55bn secured under the National Development Plan to strengthen research, innovation and education facilities nationwide.
• €100 million investment announced under the National Development Plan for a major expansion of Tyndall National Institute, significantly strengthen Ireland’s global position in cutting-edge semiconductor research and innovation.
Driving World-class Research
• Ireland joined CERN and signed the European Quantum Pact.
• €1bn milestone reached in Horizon Europe funding.
• €750m INSPIRE Research Infrastructure Programme launched.
• Launch of a strengthened Horizon Europe Action Plan, with a renewed focus on boosting the participation of Irish SMEs in Europe’s €95.5 billion research and innovation programme.
Boosting Skills and apprenticeships
• Secured the highest ever increase in investment in core funding since the establishment of the Department, with €79m in Budget 2026 bringing the total core investment to over €410 million.
• Apprentice numbers up 5% to more than 31,000 across 78 programmes.
• Ireland’s first All-Island Apprenticeship was launched jointly with Northern Ireland.
• Launch of ‘Updated Careers in Construction Action Plan’, building on the progress to date in boosting skills capacity to meet key housing, climate and infrastructural targets, under Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030, the Climate Action Plan, and the National Development Plan.
Delivering Student Accommodation and Campus Capacity
• Launched National Student Accommodation Strategy that sets out a pathway to make higher education more accessible by addressing two critical challenges, accommodation affordability and accommodation supply and viability.
• €67m was secured for new student accommodation at UCD.
• Six PPP buildings operational and five under construction, creating space for 8,500 additional students.
• New €75million capital funding programme, under Project 2040, to expand healthcare education across Ireland
Improving Inclusion and Access
• Supported Path 4 provision for learners with intellectual disabilities.
• Student Assistance Fund increased to €19.3m.
• Increased funding for student mental health and wellbeing and for the Fund for Students with Disabilities which provides support to 22,000 students with disabilities.
• Launch of €2 million Transport Fund for learners with intellectual disabilities in further education and training (FET).
• Funding of almost €1.5 million to advance access, equity, and opportunity in Further & Higher Education for care leavers and members of the Traveller and Roma communities.
National Training Fund
• The National Training Fund (Amendment) Bill was signed into law on 23rd December 2025 unlocking the National Training?Fund?surplus package of €1.485 billion announced in Budget 2025. This will underpin the development of human capital and the delivery of the national economic, social and regional development objectives of the Act.
Technological University Professorships
• Landmark reform with the introduction of a full Professorship grade in Ireland’s Technological Universities (TUs) for the first time.
• The €65.8 million Targeted Enhancement Fund (TEF) announced late in 2025 will support delivery of the first 50 professorial posts across the TU system.
National Science Advice Forum
• Appointment of 12 members to the new National Science Advice Forum under Impact 2030: Ireland’s Research and Innovation Strategy.
My Department will continue to advance delivery on commitments made under the Programme for Government and I anticipate that further significant progress will be made in the coming year.
