Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for this question. It is a very important one because our greatest resource now for our future economic and social wellbeing is our people. We want to both retain and attract the best and the brightest to carry out research into areas that could make a fundamental societal, economic and educational difference. That is so important to our wellbeing.

Under pillar 4 of our national research and innovation strategy, Impact 2030, we have very clearly articulated the vision that by 2030: "We will be a global leader in nurturing, attracting and retaining talent to drive research and innovation in our higher education and research system, enterprises, communities and public services". I think this is what the Deputy's question is getting at. To do this, we have to better support our PhD researchers. As part of this commitment to achieve that vision, I announced a national review of State supports for PhD researchers. I was very pleased to appoint Dr. Andrea Johnson and Mr. David Cagney as co-chairs for the review. I am also pleased to inform the Deputy that the co-chairs have submitted their first report following a comprehensive round of stakeholder consultations and online submissions, with 35 stakeholder meetings, and they received more than 750 written submissions.

The increase in the cost of living, and career options and pathways for PhD researchers were issues that came across very strongly during this exercise. I am fully aware that the cost-of-living crisis is creating incredibly difficult challenges for PhD researchers. In an effort to bring some tangible and immediate relief, we increased the stipend paid to PhD students in receipt of Science Foundation Ireland, SFI, or Irish Research Council, IRC, awards by €500 in the budget to €19,000, tax free. It is worth noting that, in 2016, the SFI stipend was increased from €18,000 to €18,500 and remained unchanged until 2021. When I became Minister, I also equalised the stipends between the IRC and the SFI. Following careful consideration by me, my officials and, where relevant, other Departments, it is my intention to bring the PhD researcher report to the Cabinet in June. This will enable us to have an informed discussion about how we can better support PhD researchers in advance of the budgetary process, with the budget being in October.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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It would certainly be my intention to publish the report once I get Cabinet approval. I would like to get it out there pretty quickly and urgently. I would like people to see the benefit of their input because, just looking back, it has been very significant. An all-day in-person workshop was held on 8 March. Some 35 stakeholder organisations attended, including the Irish Research Staff Association, the non-EU EEA PhD Students Society-Ireland, the National Disabled Postgraduate Advisory Committee, the Postgraduate Workers Organisation, the Postgraduate Workers Alliance, the Union of Students in Ireland, USI, the Irish Council for International Students, the Association for Higher Education Access and Disability, AHEAD, and Women in Technology and Science. That is just an example of the level of people who loaned their time to this. Some 750 people made written submissions. It is my intention to bring this report to Cabinet this month. It is due now and then I believe I can publish it well in advance of the summer recess.

I do not think it would be any surprise to me or the Deputy if that report clearly recommends better financial support for PhD researchers. We will obviously have to work through that between now and the budgetary process.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I appreciate the Deputy's support in this area. I want to do more to support PhD researchers. I think we all do. There are a couple of complexities that we must be honest about. For example, SFI and the IRC have a level of stipend, and there is an equalisation between them now. They did increase in the budget by €500, which is good but they need to go up further. That is okay; we will work through that.

A number of other researchers do their PhD through other funding bodies, some of which are not within the remit of my Department, such as the Health Research Board, HRB, and Teagasc. There are also other researchers who do them directly through the higher education institutions, HEIs, and there are some who may do them through industry or the likes as well. The whole tapestry of how PhDs work in Ireland is quite fascinating and interesting, as we work our way through this report.

The report obviously looks at the issue of stipends and financial supports. That is the most pressing issue in the context of a cost-of-living crisis, but the Deputy is also correct to mention issues such as career pathways and opportunities. No matter how well funded the HEIs are, not everybody who becomes a PhD researcher will get employment in a higher education institution and, therefore, pathways into society and industry are important as well. I am very happy once we publish the report to have an opportunity to discuss it further in this House.