Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Farrell for raising such an important issue. To reiterate the Government's position, it is imperative we all see an end to this brutal war. The Government continues to urge Israel and Hamas to accept and fulfil the three-phase proposal outlined by President Biden and endorsed by the UN Security Council. It is vital all parties work towards reviving a political process that can provide a lasting and sustainable peace based on a two-state solution.

I am conscious of the damage caused by the bombing to the education infrastructure, including schools and universities. The scale of the damage will undoubtedly interrupt a generation's education in this manner and risk the capacity of the Palestinian people to recover. When peace returns to this area, I will be encouraging higher education institutions to leverage their existing relationships through the development aid programme of the Department of Foreign Affairs and EU instruments such as Erasmus and Horizon to assist in whatever way they can to re-establish the Palestinian education system.

In common with other regions suffering conflict such as Sudan and Afghanistan, students fleeing Palestine are eligible to participate in the international protection student scheme. This scheme, which has been in place since 2015, has supported about 100 students. I am aware a number of Irish universities are responding to individual requests for support as part of the scholars at risk programme and university sanctuary programmes. A number of universities have reserved places for Palestinian students to enable them to continue their studies, as well as introducing scholarship schemes for those with financial difficulties. I am pleased to note that access to support services, including counselling and wider pastoral care, has been made available to those arriving in universities, as well as Palestinians who were already in place since August 2023 as part of the fellows programme of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

I am aware, as we all are, of the difficulties for Palestinians seeking to flee the conflict and cross the border into neighbouring countries. For this reason, data on the possible demand is very hard to establish. However, the Department is working with the Higher Education Authority to establish the precise number of Palestinian students who have arrived in Ireland and are seeking to register with our universities. Once this is available, I can determine the best way to support the universities and can share it with the Deputy.

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