Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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301. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on reports from early career psychologists that there is a lack of transparency and fairness in the PhD application process and doctoral panels which are made up of both HSE and university personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54161/18]

Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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302. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if funding to provide more places available on accredited postgraduate psychology courses here will be increased; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is only one doctorate course available nationally which is extremely costly in view of the fact there is no funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54162/18]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 301 and 302 together.

Universities are autonomous institutions within the meaning of the Universities Act 1997. The management of their academic affairs, including the establishment of entry requirements, is a matter for individual universities. Neither I nor the Department has any role in relation to such matters.

There are a number of doctoral courses available in Ireland that are accredited by the Psychological Society of Ireland:

- Doctorate in Educational and Child Psychology: Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick

- Doctorate in Educational Psychology: University College Dublin

- Professional Doctorate in Counselling Psychology: Trinity College Dublin

- Doctorate in Clinical Psychology: Trinity College Dublin, University of Limerick, University College Dublin, NUI Galway, University College Cork

Additionally, Maynooth University and the NUI Galway are providers of structured PhD programmes in Psychology.

Higher education institutions are academically independent and the level of tuition fees charged for their postgraduate programmes is a matter for the institutions themselves to determine. Accordingly, I have no role in determining tuition fees for these programmes.

I would like the Deputy to note that, in relation to the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, the HSE provides sponsorship to trainees of 60% of fees, with the trainee responsible for 40% of the shortfall. Depending on the higher education institution, this equates to €5,200 - €5,800 per annum.

Students may be eligible for a postgraduate grant at and can determine their eligibility at .

Students can also claim tax relief on fees (including the student contribution) that have been paid for third level education courses. Further information can be found at .