Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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127. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of PhD positions funded by his Department or bodies under the aegis of his Department; the average stipend or salary paid to full-time PhD candidates through these funding streams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35441/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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My Department does not fund PhD positions.

However, funding is available for staff members’ tuition fees for third level studies up to PhD Level through our Third Level Advance of Fees Scheme. Courses are part-time and undertaken in staff members’ own time and they remain an employee of this Department. The application process for post-graduate studies requires approval by an Assistant Secretary. Courses must be of benefit to the Department and any research project undertaken should be a on a topic of relevance to this Department.

On 26th May 2022, my Department launched its 3-year Learning & Development Strategy and the Third Level Advance of Fees Scheme for 2022-2023. A brochure has been developed of preferred third level courses we are prepared to fund for staff members who then undertake studies in their own time. Staff may avail of additional supports such as paid leave arrangements for study leave and exam leave as provided for under Circulars 23/2007 and 33/1964.

Under this scheme, my Department is currently funding an Officer undertaking a Doctorate in Governance (DGov) with the Whitaker School of Government & Management, Institute of Public Administration (IPA). The DGov provides policy-makers with an advanced understanding of governance in Ireland and Europe. The part-time programme is delivered over a 4-5 year period by means of directed study, seminars for the first 2 years of study and must undertake a research project of 50,000 words on an agreed subject relevant to the work of this Department.