Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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192. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform 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. [35436/22]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that there are currently no full time PhD candidates placed in my Department or the Office of Government Procurement, which is also part of my Department. I can also confirm that this is the case with regard to the bodies under the aegis of my Department.  

The Deputy may be aware that the refund of fees scheme supports civil servants to study part-time, by refunding fees for courses seen as relevant to the job and giving exam and study leave to facilitate this study.  There are currently three staff members in my Department studying part time for PhDs under this scheme.