Seanad debates
Thursday, 22 June 2023
Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters
Pension Provisions
9:30 am
Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Collins.
Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Cathaoirleach and the Minister of State for coming to the Chamber to discuss my matter. I understand the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science is currently undertaking a review in regard to PhD students and their status as a student versus an employee because, in many cases, people are lecturing, carrying out research, are working with companies, and are being sponsored by companies. My question is about PhD students and access to PRSI. While the PhD students are studying, they are working at the same time. Are they going to have access to PRSI? Perhaps the Minister of State is not in a position to answer today but it is something I wish to highlight because when these PhD students come to retirement age, they must have so many contributions. It is, therefore, very important that we look at this issue.
Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Senator Byrne for raising this important and very salient question with regard to researchers. One of the objectives of Impact 2030: Ireland’s Research and Innovation Strategy is to foster a consistent research student experience across research funders, higher education institutions and research disciplines. These highly talented people, our PhD researchers, and are a vital part of Ireland’s research talent pipeline. As Ireland’s research and innovation system has evolved organically over the past quarter of a century, a variety of practices have naturally developed in how we support PhD researchers.
With the launch of Impact 2030, it is now appropriate to consider how we can bring about more consistency in this area. With this in mind, my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Harris, appointed Dr. Andrea Johnson and Mr. David Cagney to undertake an independent national review of State supports for PhD researchers. This exercise encompasses a wide spectrum of issues ranging from stipend levels to particular issues encountered by PhD researchers coming to Ireland from outside the EU or the European Economic Area, EEA. The status of PhD researchers forms part of this spectrum, which is whether PhD researchers should be classified as students, as they are now, or as employees of their host higher education institution.
I am happy now to advise that the co-chairs have recently submitted their first report and the Minister, Deputy Harris, brought this report to Cabinet for information last Tuesday. I commend Dr. Johnson and Mr. Cagney on their comprehensive stakeholder engagement which underpins this report. During spring of this year, they met with 35 stakeholder groups and received more than 750 written submissions. Based on the evidence available at this juncture and in recognition of the stakeholder urgency, they have prioritised making recommendations on stipend levels, issues facing those from outside the EU and the EEA, and improving graduate outcomes. I am also pleased to advise that this report will be published on our Department’s website next week.
Dr. Johnson and Mr. Cagney have indicated that they need more time to finish some aspects of their work and that the issue the Senator raised will be part of that additional work. The co-chairs have rightly been careful not to make any recommendations without sufficient evidence and analysis of the potential consequences. Once the report is published, they will develop a final review report to consider those outstanding issues which will include the PRSI issue raised by the Senator.
Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State very much for his response. It is good to hear the Department is considering is looking at the issue of PRSI. This is very important because so many people are now going on to third level education and some are even taking the long route, as the Minister of State would be aware, because I know that under his own brief how very involved he is with the whole apprenticeship side and how people are progressing up through different levels.
It is very important PRSI is a key component to this report and how these PhD students can use that period toward their long-term contributions for their pensions at the other end. Many of them are PhD students for a number of years. As highlighted by the Minister of State, they are very involved in research and they are working. Many of them are paid at the lower levels, so it is important we support them in every way possible. I hope that under that PRSI scheme, they will have access to things like dental and optical benefits because not all rates of PRSI provide that cover.
Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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I wholeheartedly agree with the Senator. These people find themselves in a situation where they are neither here nor there and it is very timely that we bring some certainty to their position. The first report which I referred to provides a picture at a point in time of the range of important issues which need to considered by everyone. Any budgetary implications of the recommendations will be dealt with through the normal budgetary process. A review recommendations will inform the development of a longer term work programme - a 12- to 18-month one - by my Department in collaboration with the stakeholders.It is important there is ongoing collaboration with them. This exercise marks a major inflection point in PhD provision in Ireland and how we can best support it.
As we look towards the next quarter of a century of Ireland's research and innovation system, I am delighted the independent review commissioned by the Minister, Deputy Harris, will make a major contribution.