DÁIL ÉIREANN Déardaoin, 8 Iúil, 2021 Thursday, 8th July, 2021 CEISTEANNA QUESTIONS 53 DÁIL ÉIREANN 3127 Déardaoin, 8 Iúil, 2021 Thursday, 8th July, 2021 CEISTEANNA I gCOMHAIR FREAGRA Ó BHÉAL QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER CEISTEANNA AR SONRAÍODH UAIN DÓIBH QUESTIONS NOMINATED FOR PRIORITY Chun an Aire Breisoideachais agus Ardoideachais, Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Eolaíochta: To the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research; Innovation and Science. 1. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the holiday earnings disregard is applied to the pandemic unemployment payment for SUSI applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Rose Conway-Walsh. [36806/21] 2. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the level of funding his Department has secured to support the establishment of a County Wexford campus for the Technological University of South East Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Verona Murphy. [37070/21] 3. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when the independent economic report on the Cassells Report will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Rose Conway-Walsh. [37069/21] 4. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will ensure that sufficient funding is put in place to provide for additional apprenticeships for students given that all courses are now oversubscribed as there is significant demand for apprenticeships and this demand needs to be addressed and in view of the fact that employers need to be subsidised adequately to ensure they will accommodate such students in the workplace. — Danny Healy-Rae. [37067/21] 5. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount of time that students can expect to have on-campus when they return in September 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Rose Conway-Walsh. [37166/21] CEISTEANNA EILE OTHER QUESTIONS Chun an Aire Breisoideachais agus Ardoideachais, Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Eolaíochta: To the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research; Innovation and Science. 6. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the proactive steps his Department is taking to address university fees which are the highest in the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Verona Murphy. [36821/21] 7. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has engaged with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on the Employment Control P.T.O 3128 Framework and the increase of precarious work in higher education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Rose Conway-Walsh. [36804/21] 8. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures that will be implemented to intensify co-operation on a North/South basis in the areas of further education and higher education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Brendan Smith. [36830/21] 9. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of arrangements under the Third Country Researchers’ Directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — John Lahart. [36847/21] 10. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of the apprenticeship waiting lists; the number of apprentices who are waiting for off the job training; and the number who have been waiting for over a year. — Rose Conway-Walsh. [36803/21] 11. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the role his Department played in the appointment of a person (details supplied) to a position. — Brian Stanley. [36551/21] 12. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps he will take to ensure a greater regional aspect to the newly proposed national apprentice office among the new places being offered between now and 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Joe Carey. [36624/21] 13. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress regarding implementation of the Framework for Consent in Higher Education Institutions: Safe, Respectful, Supportive and Positive: Ending Sexual Violence and Harassment in Irish Higher Education Institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Niamh Smyth. [36845/21] 14. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of the application for a technological university for the south-east; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — David Cullinane. [35501/21] 15. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the engagement he has had with third-level institutions to ensure that 2020-2021 first-year students who did not attend their courses due to distance learning will have the necessary supports in place to transition to on-campus learning for 2021-2022 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Aindrias Moynihan. [36800/21] 16. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if there was a compliant appointment process for the appointment of a person (details supplied) to a position. — Brian Stanley. [36550/21] 17. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide greater clarity on the opening of further and higher education campuses in September 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Ruairí Ó Murchú. [36775/21] 3129 18. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the proposed SOLAS FET funding model of the future for the Youthreach programme will be funded based on the number of students completing the programme with QQI certification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Mark Ward. [36508/21] 19. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of the apprenticeship incentivisation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Christopher O’Sullivan. [36850/21] 20. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if SUSI qualification thresholds will be increased; the other initiatives he plans to assist students and their families meet the financial challenges of higher education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Brendan Griffin. [36763/21] 21. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the actions he has taken to ensure that the voice of persons with disabilities are heard in further and higher educational institutions by ensuring representation on university and college boards of management; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Pauline Tully. [36832/21] 22. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps he has taken to ensure that students in this jurisdiction looking to study outside of the CAO system are not disadvantaged by the late issuing of leaving certificate results in 2021; and the engagement he has had to ensure that students from Northern Ireland looking to study through CAO are similarly not disadvantaged. — Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire. [36691/21] 23. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress with the Connacht-Ulster Alliance following its application for a technological university; the likely timeline involved; if this can be accelerated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Alan Dillon. [36833/21] 24. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans for increasing university places which feed into the health sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — David Cullinane. [35502/21] 25. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if, on the basis that one of Europe’s largest off-shore windfarms is planned for development off the Clare coast, he will give consideration to developing a centre of excellence for skills and training in the renewable energy sector in County Clare. — Cathal Crowe. [36589/21] 26. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the options being put in place by his Department to fund large-scale capital projects for education and training boards; if the eligibility for funding will include the construction of new headquarters buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Alan Dillon. [36834/21] 27. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the cost of the student contribution charge in 2022 for students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Rose Conway-Walsh. [36802/21] 28. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the protocols in place which would allow third-level institutions to canvass for and secure funding P.T.O 3130 from private companies for the development of their facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Colm Burke. [36761/21] 29. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the SUSI deduction for holiday earnings earned outside of term time up to a maximum of €4,500 is being applied to students who received the pandemic unemployment payment instead as their employment was interrupted by the pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Gary Gannon.