Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 March 2023
64. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on departmental plans to address inequities that may emerge between State-funded PhD researchers and other PhD researchers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15748/23]
View answerThe quality of our researchers is fundamental to the quality of our research system and its collaboration with partners in industry and policymakers, both in Ireland and abroad.
Under Pillar 4 of our national research and innovation strategy, Impact 2030, we have committed to ensuring that researchers have the right skills development and career opportunities so that they can make their maximum contribution, whether in academia, industry, the public sector or elsewhere.
Of the approximately 10,000 annual doctoral enrolments, approximately 6,000 are funded publicly through our higher education institutions and public funding bodies. The latter includes competitive awards from Science Foundation Ireland and the Irish Research Council, as well as awards from the agencies of other Government departments.
The remaining 4,000 enrolments are categorised as self-funding; this includes persons funded by their employers as well as those researchers undertaking a PhD at their own initiative.
Students enrolled as PhD candidates may avail of a wide range of student supports provided by their host higher education institution. These include academic supports and a wide range of well-being supports.
As part of the commitment in impact 2030, I announced a national review of State supports for PhD researchers. I was pleased to appoint Dr Andrea Johnson and David Cagney as Co-Chairs for the review.
I met with the Co-Chairs at the end of February where they provided an update on progress of the review.
This independent review is currently underway. The two Co-Chairs are approaching completion of a very comprehensive round of stakeholder consultations and written submissions. The review is considering a range of critical issues such as stipend levels, the consistency of supports across the system and specific supports for non-EU PhD students.
Once the Co-Chairs finalise their report, it will be presented to Government. Any decision I make on measures to support PhD researchers will be informed by the outcome of this review.
