Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 321: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason for the increase in fees and cuts in support for PhD students in third level institutions; the way he proposes to increase the number of highly skilled graduates and researchers while this policy continues; if his attention has been drawn to the report of the Advisory Science Council, The Role of PhDs in the Smart Economy, December 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2363/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware the position is that in the context of budgetary discussions regarding overall funding and proposals for fee changes at a sectoral level, third level institutions are autonomous bodies and may determine the level of fees to be charged in cases where the free fees schemes do not apply. As such, post-graduate level fees are set by individual higher education institutions. The Deputy may also appreciate that the need for budgetary adjustment has made it necessary to reduce the level of student maintenance grants for all qualifying students, including postgraduate students.

The funding (including capital) being made available by my Department in 2009 for research and development activities amounts to some €130 million. In the current difficult budgetary and economic climate, this funding is a clear demonstration of the Government's commitment to investing in the continued development of Ireland's research capacity. The development and support of early stage researchers is one of the key priorities for this funding. Supports for PhD students are provided under the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions (PRTLI) and the award schemes of the Irish Research Council for Humanities and Social Sciences and the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology. I understand from the Higher Education Authority (HEA), who are in consultation with the research councils, that the funding being provided this year will enable a continuation of their various scholarship and fellowship programmes, although there may be some decrease in the number of awards made in 2010 as against previous years.

One of the key objectives of research investment is the supply of PhD qualified researchers with skills closely aligned to enterprise needs. Higher education institutions, supported by the HEA, are moving from the traditional "apprentice" model of PhD education to a structured four-year programme model. While the PhD thesis will remain the primary focus, students will in addition to acquiring a broad knowledge of their discipline area also receive generic and transferable skills training in areas such as project management and intellectual property. The Advisory Science Council report, referred to by the Deputy and published in December, highlights Ireland's need to maintain a competitive output of PhDs in relevant disciplines and endorses the structured programme model being adopted by the higher education institutions and the HEA.