Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 September 2023
112. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if university-funded PhD scholarships will be allocated additional State funding for this academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40452/23]
View answer120. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the recommendation to increase PhD stipends to €25,000 per annum from 1 January 2024 applies to all PhDs, inclusive of SFI, IRC, and university/college-funded scholarships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40451/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 120 together.
In the Funding our Future report which was published in May 2022 and updated last month [August], I confirmed the Government’s intention to increase the funding given to third level institutions and to reduce the cost of education, at all levels, including PhD.
The August update highlights the work of Dr Andrea Johnson and Mr David Cagney, two experts I appointed in November 2022 to undertake an independent national review of state supports for PhD Researchers.
The Co-Chairs submitted their first report to me last May which is available on WWW.Gov.ie.
In this, they recommend an increased stipend level with an optimum target of €25,000, subject to funding availability. They acknowledge the potential ramifications of any such change on public finances and recognise that significant additional work will be needed in order give effect to such a recommendation.
Science Foundation Ireland and the Irish Research Council competitively award stipends to approximately 3,000 PhD students.
The institutional scholarships provided by the higher education institutions are of varying levels and determined by the institutions themselves. These are supported through institutional core funding, i.e. through the block grant provided by the Higher Education Authority. There are approximately 2,000 PhD students in receipt of such support.
The financial implications arising from the recommendations of this independent review are currently being considered by my officials through the normal budgetary processes.
The Co-Chairs are preparing their concluding report to consider, firstly, the equality, diversity and inclusion dimension of PhD provision and, secondly, the status of PhD students. I look forward to receiving their independent final report shortly.
