Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

452. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the means-testing requirements for Irish Research Council PhD scholarships; his plans to review these requirements in relation to how they apply to lone parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57111/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Irish Research Council (IRC) does not implement means-testing for Irish Research Council PhD scholarships. Postgraduate scholarships are allocated solely on the basis of the quality of the research proposal as determined by independent international peer review. All successful applicants who meet the terms and conditions of the scheme are awarded a stipend of €18,500 per year, up to a maximum of four years.

A stipend is a well-established feature of funded postgraduate awards globally, providing an income to the awardee in recognition of the need to devote themselves on a full-time basis to their research. The IRC has taken specific measures this year to enhance the support it provides to researchers of any career stage who are parents or carers. The IRC published a new policy in this regard effective 1 November 2021 which gives postgraduate awardees the entitlement to continuity of stipend for approved periods of leave for purposes of maternity, paternity or the adoption of a child. This policy introduces a new and important level of support for early-career researchers that become parents, including lone parents.

I have made enquiries from the Department of Social Protection in respect of this matter, as this question impinges on income support for lone parents. I understand that the Department of Social Protection encourages social welfare recipients to avail of education and training. In addition, income received from the SUSI grant is disregarded in the means test for most social welfare schemes. Any fees paid directly to the relevant educational establishment are not counted as means. I understand that disregards across all of the Department of Social Protection's schemes are kept under constant review and any changes have to be considered in a budgetary context.