Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 October 2022
509. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the Budget 2023 announcement of a €500 stipend increase to PhD students under Science Foundation Ireland and the Irish Research Council funding will be extended to include all PHD students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48347/22]
View answer519. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the €500 increase in stipends for PhD students announced in Budget 2023 will apply to all PhD students working in Irish universities and not just to students funded by Science Foundation Ireland and the Irish Research Council; if the increased stipend will be made available to students who receive their funding directly from their university; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48498/22]
View answer520. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the €500 stipend increase to students completing their PhDs under Science Foundation Ireland and the Irish Research Council will be available to those PhD candidates working in Irish universities who have other sources of funding such as direct funding from the university itself; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48507/22]
View answer524. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if PhD students who receive their funding from the university itself will receive the €500 stipend increase announced in Budget 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48620/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 509, 519, 520 and 524 together.
Many PhD students receive stipends which are supported by Science Foundation Ireland and the Irish Research Council, both bodies under the aegis of my Department. However, PhD students may self-fund, or receive support from either their higher education institution or some other body - including private funders. Higher education institutions are autonomous institutions as provided for in legislation and on that basis the management of academic affairs, including the criteria governing the level of stipends paid to PhD students, is solely a matter for the relevant institution to determine in line with its own criteria.
With that in view, as an immediate and tangible relief against the challenges of the rising cost of living, in this Budget I am introducing:
- a once off payment in 2022 of €500 for PhD students who receive an IRC or SFI award.
- a €500 increase to the stipend baseline in 2023 for PhD students who receive an IRC or SFI award.
PhD students recipients may also, in certain circumstances, qualify for support from SUSI.
I should add that I am considering commencing a review of current PhD training provision, including supports for students such as stipends. I have asked my Department to set out a scope for such a review, building on previous work in this area and with a view to framing practical actions that can be implemented within the resources available and competing needs.
