Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy has hit on a really valid point. We have to recognise that every student is going to be in a different scenario. That is the beauty - if I can call it that - of this national line and contact point. Students can come in have a conversation, say that they were a third-year engineering student, to take a random example, and ask where they fit in the education system, what their options are and what are the local colleges. Crucially, they may want to continue their link with their Ukrainian university online but use a given university's library and attend some tutorials or lectures there. We are very much in the business of facilitating that. At the start, Ukrainian students and ourselves, when we got individual queries, would have to navigate the higher education system and go to the local university. We are now trying to put in place a bespoke plan for each individual student as to what is best for him or her. It is more straightforward with some programmes than with others. Where people are with their medical studies in Ukraine may be very different from where medical students would be at the same stage in Ireland. We are very eager to provide any support for Ukrainian students, including those who are learning online. They may wish to become full-time students in an Irish university, and that is no problem. They may wish to continue to study with their Ukrainian universities but to access some lectures, tutorials or facilities. That is also facilitated.

With regard to transport and accommodation needs, what we might generally call financial needs and supports, without getting ahead of the Government decision, I will say that I have been working very intensely at a European level with my colleague, Mr. Ian McKenna here, to try to use the Erasmus scheme to support students because it provides at least the SUSI level of support.

I will not get ahead of the Government decision, but I have been working intensely at European level, with my colleague Mr. McKenna, to try to use the Erasmus scheme to support students because it provides at least the SUSI level of support. If we can register all Ukrainian students at whatever level they are at, be it postgraduate or undergraduate, as Erasmus students, not only here in Ireland but throughout the European Union, we can actually provide them with a significant level of support through that initiative. I commend Commissioner Gabriel on her work on that.

I will share with the committee some figures I received before coming to this meeting. The national student and researcher helpline has received 535 unique inquiries so far. I will provide a breakdown of where each student is at in his or her studies. Some 266 of them are undergraduates, 40 are postgraduates and 25 are researchers. I can also provide a geographical breakdown of where those queries are coming from.

I should have said that staff are included in the same way as students. The beauty of the Erasmus programme is that it is for staff and students. It is our intention to provide opportunities for any higher education member of staff from Ukraine who is in Ireland to work in our institutions. Ukrainian teachers working at primary or secondary level, as was referenced, could really benefit. I think we will see the same there. They can also register under the Erasmus scheme for staff. I will pick up the recognition of qualifications in the next round.