Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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115. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the work by his Department on reducing the issue of precarity of employment in the higher education sector. [12851/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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In relation to the question of precarious employment there are a number of work streams which are relevant. My Department is engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and with the Higher Education Authority (HEA) regarding a revised employment control framework.  We have also

established a subgroup of the national advisory forum for Ireland’s framework for doctoral education which is considering the overall position as regards PhD students.

The HEA have advised they are undertaking a data collection exercise in conjunction with the sector with a view to establishing the number of hourly paid staff in the Higher Education Sector and the final outcome of this data collection is pending.  The HEA have advised that they will share the final outcome of this exercise with this Department.

My Department will continue to interact with the sector, the HEA and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to make progress in the light of employment data across the sector and the potential to improve the sustainability of arrangements within the resources available.