Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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357. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated amount that it would cost to pay postgraduate research students a stipend for 40 hours per week (details supplied); the cost per research postgraduate student; and the cost for all postgraduate research students in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18984/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Doctoral education programmes in Ireland educate and develop researchers to the highest skills levels so that they become creative, critical and independent individuals who will advance the boundaries of research. Through the process of doctoral education, the student is provided with opportunities to develop a range of skills to a very advanced level. These skills relate both to the research process itself and to broader professional training and development.

In the academic year 2020/21, there were some 7,938 full time PhD students enrolled. There were also 1,352 full time research Masters students. In total there were 30,059 full time postgraduate students enrolled in the academic year 2020/21. In addition, there are also part-time students enrolled in these categories.

In relation to PhD students, a number would be in receipt of grants from research funders, a number would be receiving institutional or other scholarships, while others would be self-funded.

PhD students undertake a range of elements designed to further their training and development. In particular PhD students, in addition to conducting research, participate in other activities to develop generic and transferable skills, which can include a range of academic support activities, such as taking tutorial groups, demonstrating at practical classes, co-supervising undergraduate projects and student mentoring.

I do not have full information on the hours involved by the PhD students in these activities to determine the basis upon which to make an estimate taking all of these factors into account.