Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

As I said, hundreds of PhD researchers were outside Leinster House last week to highlight the issue of their pay and conditions. There are over 10,500 such researchers and their hourly rate is below the minimum wage at present. It is difficult to survive on that. I think the stipend is €19,000 at the moment and researchers are calling for more than that due to the cost-of-living crisis and the cost of living in the State generally. PhD researchers are excluded from social welfare benefits because they are paid so little they do not earn PRSI contributions. The review is therefore important, and I hope it will be favourable for PhD students, wherever they come from. As the Minister said it is about keeping their talent in the country and the importance of their giving the benefit of their education and talent to the country.

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