Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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843. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to report on the work of his Department regarding the new Learner Protection Fund. [27276/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Reply not received from Department.

Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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844. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to make statements on the board vacancies for the HEA and higher education institutions. [27277/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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In line with Section 16 of the Higher Education Authority (HEA) Act 2022 the board membership for the Higher Education Authority consists of a Chairperson and 11 Ministerial appointed ordinary members (including one student representative).

In accordance with sectoral legislation the Governing Board for each Higher Education Institute (HEI) shall comprise of 19 members, which includes nine external members (other than the Chairperson) three of which are nominated by the Minister.

I can advise the Deputy that there is currently a Chairperson and one Ordinary Member vacancy arising from 1st June on the HEA board.

There are also vacant Ministerial Nominees positions on the Governing Board of two HEI’s, two for University of Limerick and three for TU Dublin.

I can further advise the Deputy that my Department is progressing the requisite Public Appointments Service (PAS) processes to fill the vacant positions on all of the Governing Boards outlined.

Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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845. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when he expects the appointment of the new chairperson of the Higher Education Authority to be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27278/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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In line with Section 16 of the Higher Education Authority (HEA) Act 2022 the board membership for the Higher Education Authority consists of a Chairperson and 11 ordinary members appointed by the Minister (includes one USI representative).

As the HEA is recognised as a State Board, the appointment process for new members, including the Chairperson, is managed by the Public Appointments Service (PAS), which holds responsibility for recruitment and assessment.

The Department engaged with PAS in Autumn 2024 to identify a suitable candidate with the necessary leadership, skills and experience to take on this strategically important role. An open and transparent process to seek expressions of interest for the role of Chairperson was initiated in October 2024 and is ongoing, with a decision on this key appointment expected in due course.

Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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846. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when he expects the appointment of the new CEO of QQI to be made. [27279/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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An open recruitment process for the new CEO of Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) is currently underway. This process is being supported by Forvis Mazars with the position also being advertised on the Public Appointments Service's website. The application deadline for this position was Monday 26th May 2025. Applicants will now be subject to a competitive shortlisting and interview process. The start date for the new CEO will be determined once the successful candidate has been identified.

Following the departure of the previous CEO, QQI's Director of Corporate Services Ms Clíona Curley has been appointed to this position in an interim capacity.

Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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847. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when he expects his Department to publish the 2025 annual options paper. [27280/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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It is my intention to publish the 2025 Annual Options paper in the Autumn.

The Options Paper will set out various options for further enhancement of supports for consideration as part of the budgetary process. I will have regard to a number of those options when making proposals in the context of budget 2026 discussions.

Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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848. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the 16 established sexual violence and harassment prevention and response manager posts in higher education institutions have been filled. [27281/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I am pleased to confirm that all 16 of these post holders are now in place and provide direct support to students and staff. Since 2023, DFHERIS has provided ring fenced recurrent funding for dedicated Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Managers in higher education institutions. These roles support the implementation of the Ending Sexual Violence and Harassment Framework (ESVH) and will make a critical contribution to Ireland's zero tolerance approach to ending Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence (DSGBV).

An ESVH Practitioner Network has also, made up of the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Managers and equivalent roles working to implement the ESVH Framework in higher education institutions. This Network enables violence and harassment prevention and response managers to engage in a space where they can share ideas, good practice, and has already become a strong tool for collaboration across the sector. The work of the Managers is part of wider efforts ongoing, including by my Department, and the leadership of the Higher Education Authority and its work with partners across the sector, to support all efforts to ensure a safe, respectful and supportive environment exists for all staff and students in Higher Education Institutes and for all persons on campuses.

Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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849. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to report on any plans or further actions under consideration by his Department following the conclusion of the Race Equality Implementation Plan in 2025. [27282/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The Race Equality Implementation Plan (2022-2025) was launched in September 2022. Additionally, in March 2023, the Anti-Racism Principles for Irish Higher Education Institutions were introduced, and seek to assist HEI leadership in efforts to foster a culture of racial equality within their institutions.

The Presidents of 21 HEIs have signed and endorsed the Anti-Racism Principles for Irish Higher Education Institutions.

An Advisory Group is also in place, chaired by the HEA, working to advance race equality in higher education, including by work on the actions outlined in the Race Equality Implementation Plan. This Group consists of representatives from relevant higher education stakeholder groups, external specialist agencies, and experts in race equality. It also works to provide ongoing policy advice to the HEA on tackling racism in HEIs, and engagement in work promoting race equality as part of the strategic priorities and culture of these institutions.

My Department actively engages in the work in this area through its support for the HEA Centre of Excellence on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, and participation in the Advisory Group. The Department will continue to examine, in collaboration with the HEA and the wider sector, opportunities and scope for how to support for the work under the Race Equality Implementation Plan and as it is continued to be rolled out. It is currently intended that the Implementation Plan would be reviewed during 2026, and with a view to including further surveys of HEIs on this area, and to continually inform this work with a robust evidence base.

Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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850. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the name and details of each of the 50 major projects in the higher education sector receiving Exchequer funding; the name and details of the 65 projects in the FET sector receiving Exchequer funding; and the amount of funding received in each instance, in tabular form. [27283/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The information in relation to the further and higher education projects sought by the Deputy is detailed in the attached table. This listing represents the current position and is subject to ongoing change.

Funding disbursed to date has been provided for projects where a contract has been awarded. For projects that have not reached tender and award stage the information on funding disbursed is treated as confidential and commercially sensitive.

Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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851. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the name and details of each capital project currently set for delivery through the use of public private partnerships in the third level sector, in tabular form. [27284/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The current Higher Education PPP Programme, originally announced as part of the Building on Recovery Capital Plan 2016-2021, includes eleven projects. This commitment to the PPP programme has been carried through into the current National Development Plan 2021-2030.

Bundle 1, consisting of six projects, has five projects completed and one under construction, with a completion date in Q2 2025.