Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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705. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has engaged with the higher education institutions on PHD stipends and the potential for an increase in such given the rising cost of living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37728/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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A stipend is a well-established feature of funded postgraduate awards globally, providing an income to the awardee in recognition of the need to devote themselves on a full-time basis to their research.

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. The majority of PhD students are in receipt of grants from either the Irish Research Council, Science Foundation Ireland, other research funders, as well as institutional funding.

My Department is monitoring the issue of stipends, in the context of the resources available to the competitive research funding agencies under the aegis of my Department and the competing needs to which they can be allocated. In that regard, I was pleased to be able to allocate additional funding to the IRC in 2021 to enable it to increase postgraduate scholarship by €2,500 per annum, or 16%, from €16,000 to €18,500. This was made effective from 1 January 2021 and, together with an increase to funding for postdoctoral salaries, benefited close to 1,300 early-career researchers in the system. The move also aligned the stipend level for both agencies within my Department, i.e. the IRC and SFI.

Under the Student Grant Scheme 2021, a student in receipt of a postgraduate research award where the stipend portion of the award does not exceed €18,500 may apply to the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) for financial assistance under the Student Grant Scheme 2021

The recently announced Innovate for Ireland initiative, is a partnership between government and industry to recruit and retain research talent. It will offer an attractive package, including a stipend of €28,000, to be awarded through the programme to PhD students. This has been benchmarked against similar scholarship programmes internationally. The programme will be managed through Science Foundation Ireland, in partnership with the Irish Research Council and the Health Research Board.

Other research funders in the system include the Health Research Board, Teagasc etc. There are also typically a number of PhDs funded through European Programmes and individual HEI schemes.

My Department allocates recurrent funding to the HEA for direct disbursement to HEA designated higher education institutions. The HEA allocates this funding as a block grant to the institutions and as autonomous bodies, the internal disbursement of this funding, including stipend funding, is a matter for the individual institution.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Following a call for proposals under the FET College of the Future Major Projects Fund, I understand that a Strategic Assessment Report in relation to the Cavan Institute proposal has now been submitted by Cavan Monaghan ETB to SOLAS. The Deputy will be aware that it was agreed that the Cavan Institute project, previously part of the Department of Education school building programme, would be advanced as part of the new FET capital funding programme.

As the Deputy is aware, I have already committed that funding will be made available to deliver this project, subject to compliance with Public Spending Code requirements. The Strategic Assessment Report is currently undergoing evaluation by the SOLAS-led assessment team, together with other proposals from the sector.

I have also granted approval for the purchase of a new modular unit for CMETB.

This is a strategic opportunity to address short and medium term accommodation needs for FET services in Cavan Town. The modular unit, c 1,700 sq.m., will be located at the FET campus at the former Dún Uí Neill Army barracks and will be operational by September. This modular accommodation is to address immediate accommodation needs. This development will enable the delivery of a range of PLC programmes, including but not limited to: music production, science, beauty, sports, animal care, sports therapy and general skills programmes. It will also provide canteen and sports facilities and office space. Works are well advanced on the delivery of this project for the new academic year.