Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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19. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way that he plans to address the ongoing issue of low pay and precarious contracts of many academic staff now exacerbated by the spiralling cost of living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36674/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am acutely conscious of the serious concerns as strong inflationary pressures impact on the cost of living for all in our society and communities, including those working in the higher and further education and training sector.

The Government's Summer Economic Statement published earlier this week sets out the Government’s budgetary strategy which will seek to protect public services, allow us to introduce further measures to address the cost of living pressures in the autumn, and at same time maintain fiscally sustainable expenditure into the medium term.

As far as pay levels are concerned, as the Deputy will be aware, WRC-facilitated talks with the public sector trade union movement to undertake a review under “Building Momentum” were recently adjourned and all sides are reflecting on their positions to seek to reach a mutually acceptable position. I know that the official side will continue to engage positively, as they seek to address the concerns which have triggered the review process.

I have engaged as Minister with staff representatives in higher education on issues of concern such as, for example, low pay and short-term contracts. Clearly, a key issue is establishing the scale and scope of these issues. In this regard, a recent HEA report indicated that 11% of headcount are hourly-paid in the technological sector, with 17% falling into this category in traditional universities. It is accepted that data collection of this category is challenging. Institutional report of staff data under the Employee Control Framework will be one element which we will address with the sector in the context of our wider reform discussions.

Funding the Future sets out the Government's objectives for funding higher education on a sustainable basis and my commitment to an ambitious programme of reform to be delivered alongside increased investment. A key priority of this reform process is enhancing the quality and international standing of the higher education system across its three core missions of teaching, learning and research through investment in the higher education workforce.

I am committed to working with our agencies, the sector and key stakeholders including staff representatives to ensuring that the adoption of a sustainable future model of funding will enable - amongst other objectives - steps to be taken to address the issue of precarious work in the sector.

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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20. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the work of the established sub-group of the national advisory forum for Ireland’s framework for doctoral education specifically in relation to PhD students and the issues of precarity and low pay that they face. [36765/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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My Department has been undertaking an examination of the issues in relation to the long-standing institutional requirement for PhD students to undertake a range of academic support activities, as part of their postgraduate research studies. This has been done in collaboration with the Irish Universities Association and Technological Higher Education Association and the National Advisory Forum for Ireland’s Framework for Doctoral Education.

In February 2022, I wrote to the Presidents of Higher Education Institutions requesting that they undertake a sectoral exercise to agree a set of high-level principles to which all institutions can work towards. I asked that they undertake a feasibility study to determine the next steps in progressing towards greater consistency and transparency in arrangements for postgraduate researchers. This work is progressing and it is envisaged that this exercise will be completed in Autumn 2022.

More generally, the Government is committed to meeting the ambition set out in Impact 2030, Ireland’s national research and innovation strategy, that researchers and innovators working in Ireland should have the best possible experience and to make the biggest possible difference.

On 1 July, the Taoiseach and I announced a new partnership between industry and the Government to recruit and retain research talent.

Innovate for Ireland is an important collaboration between industry and the Government and will make a significant contribution to the aims of our research and innovation strategy.

The initial phase of the Innovate for Ireland initiative will seek to attract up to 400 PhD high calibre students to undertake research in Ireland that tackles national and global grand challenges such as climate change and climate adaptation; global health and pandemics; water poverty; digital society; and cyber-security.

An attractive package, including a stipend of €28,000, will be awarded through the programme to the PhD students. This has been benchmarked against similar scholarship programmes internationally. The programme will embrace all relevant disciplines from Science, Technology and Engineering to Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.