Written Answers Nos. 1035-1039
1035. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether for procurement spend, a purchase order can be raised within his Department's financial management systems without reference to a contract, framework agreement, procurement process or other authorising arrangement; if so, the circumstances in which this may occur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45166/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1036. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether an invoice can be paid by his Department without an associated purchase order having first been raised; if so, the circumstances in which this may occur; the number and value of payments made during quarter one of 2026 which were not associated with a purchase order; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45184/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1035 and 1036 together.
When a contract is awarded, details are recorded in a centralised contracts register, including the contract category, (goods or services), value, and information on the use of central procurement frameworks. All expenditure is recorded on the Department’s Financial Management System, which operates separately from the contracts register. While invoices may be paid without a purchase order having been raised in advance, all payments must comply with relevant payment policies, procedures and circulars.
Approximately 99% of the Department’s funding allocation is spent on grants, while the remaining 1% covers staff salaries and administration expenditure. In Quarter 1 of 2026, a total of 406 invoices were processed without a purchase order, amounting to €1.09 million.
The Department of Education and Youth provides a shared service to my Department, including access to its financial management system, as a fully separate instance. This arrangement is interim, pending my Department’s transition to Financial Shared Services, operated by the National Shared Services Office, in 2028. At that point, we will adopt their model, including the requirement to raise purchase orders for all expenditure.
1037. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the extent of further and higher education and research links between Ireland and Singapore; and the way in which those links will be further enhanced. [45233/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are currently important, though relatively modest, research and innovation links between Ireland and Singapore at both bilateral level and under the EU Research and Innovation Framework Programme, Horizon Europe.
Research Ireland supports approximately 30 collaborative links between the Irish and Singaporean research and innovation communities. These include engagements with Research Ireland Research Centres such as CONNECT (centre for future networks and communications), INSIGHT (data analytics) and APC (Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre) Microbiome Ireland.
To date, there are eight collaborative links across seven projects under Horizon Europe involving Irish and Singaporean research and innovation partners. Horizon Europe projects also include participants from other countries. The most effective way for Irish researchers and businesses to engage with counterparts in other countries is through the EU programmes.
You may be aware that I travelled to Singapore last July, during which time I visited the Singapore Institute of Technology and Singapore Management University. I also met with the Singaporean Minister for Education, Desmond Lee, and we had the opportunity to exchange views on broader areas of bilateral cooperation between Ireland and Singapore and look to further areas of future cooperation between our countries.
In December, Singapore established the Singapore-Horizon Europe Complementary Fund to promote collaborations with Horizon Europe. The fund will provide financial support to eligible Singapore-based researchers participating in Horizon Europe projects, which have received grant awards in priority areas for Singapore. This was a feature of the discussion between myself and Minister Lee during my Ministerial visit in July.
Expanding on the success of our initial deployments under Global Citizens 2030, I will appoint five additional attachés to the UK, France, Germany, South Africa and Singapore - strengthening our talent and innovation engagement. Singapore is a key location chosen as part of this expansion, serving as a strategic Asia-Pacific hub with national and institutional research strength, connectivity, and market access. This presence will deepen partnerships, support Irish institutions, and unlock new regional collaboration opportunities.
1038. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department is responsible for investment into sports facilities in third level institutions; and the plans in place for future investments across the State. [45291/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department works collaboratively with all Higher Education Institutions and Education and Training Boards on the development of capital projects in line with their established masterplans. Third level institutions are autonomous bodies established under statute. As autonomous bodies, it is a matter for each institution to prioritise expenditure and investment decisions, having regard to their governance and financial oversight arrangements.
Funding for sports facilities and equipment is primarily provided through programmes administered by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, including the Community Sport Facilities Fund and the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund, with the most recent allocations under these schemes announced in 2024.
1039. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of students enrolled in FET courses in each of the past five years; and if his Department supports the admissions policy of some FET courses that only accepts students over 23 years with a leaving certificate qualification. [45292/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFurther Education and Training (FET) provides a broad range of lifelong learning opportunities for individuals aged 16 and over.
Certain programmes, such as Youthreach, are specifically designed for early school leavers who may have limited qualifications and therefore include age-related entry criteria to reflect this target group.
My officials have engaged with SOLAS and the Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI) on this matter. They have confirmed that there are no FET courses with admission policies requiring applicants to be over 23 years of age while also holding a Leaving Certificate qualification.
SOLAS reports the number of learners enrolled in FET courses in the past five years is as follows:
|
SOLAS FET Learner Numbers |
Unique Learners |
|
|
|
|
|
Year |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
Total |
144,160 |
186,740 |
218,775 |
230,007 |
224,676 |
