I propose to take Questions Nos. 719 and 720 together.
In November 2022, I appointed Dr Andrea Johnson and Mr David Cagney to undertake an independent National Review of State Supports for PhD Researchers. This reflects the objective, under the dedicated Talent Pillar of Impact 2030, Ireland’s national research and innovation strategy, for a consistent research student experience across funders, institutions and research disciplines.
The Review Terms of Reference comprised examination of:
• Current financial supports for PhD researchers,
• The adequacy, consistency and equity of current arrangements,
• The status of PhD researchers (employee/ student) including a review of international comparators,
• Impact on the funding of research programmes of any adjustments to current supports,
• Graduate outcomes, including return on investment,
• Visa requirements and duration for non-EU students.
The Co-Chairs’ first review report was published on 26 June 2023 and is available on www.gov.ie . The first report addressed the issue of stipends in particular and recommended an increase to achieve a optimum level of €25,000, subject to the availability of funding, conscious of the potential implications of any stipend change on the public finances.
The Co-Chairs have now submitted their second and final report to the me and the totality of their recommendations - both financial and non-financial – are currently being considered by my officials and myself. A 12-18 month work programme to implement appropriate recommendations is under development.
Financial recommendations regarding any increase to level of stipend are being managed through the normal budgetary processes. Stipends funded by agencies such as Science Foundation Ireland and the Irish Research Council are provided on a competitive basis. Those provided by the institutions (institutional scholarships) are funded primarily through the block grant allocated to them by the Higher Education Authority as well as a range of other sources of funding specific to each institution.
Any increases to publicly funded stipend payments form part of the deliberations under the Funding the Future initiative. It is important to note that as autonomous institutions, the higher education institutions have discretion over their own internal budget allocation.
It is not appropriate to comment on any changes to stipend amounts before the Government has announced its decisions with regards to Budget 2024.
I would finally like to bring to the attention of the Deputy an options paper I published in August entitled “Funding our Future - An annual options paper on the cost of higher education”. The paper considers in detail the option of increasing payments for competitive agencies as well as institutional scholarships. It is available on www.gov.ie .
