Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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508. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline the PhD stipend increase outlined in Budget 2023; if it is a one-off payment or if it is a monthly rise; the way that students can avail of same; the date that they can claim it from; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48346/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I was pleased to be able to allocate a once off payment of €500 in 2022 to PhD students currently supported by Science Foundation Ireland and the Irish Research Council, and an increase of €500 to the stipend baseline of €18,500 for 2023 for PhD students currently supported by Science Foundation Ireland and the Irish Research Council. Both agencies will make arrangements with higher education institutions for the increase to be paid to students funded through their awards.

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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509. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the Budget 2023 announcement of a €500 stipend increase to PhD students under Science Foundation Ireland and the Irish Research Council funding will be extended to include all PHD students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48347/22]

Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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519. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the €500 increase in stipends for PhD students announced in Budget 2023 will apply to all PhD students working in Irish universities and not just to students funded by Science Foundation Ireland and the Irish Research Council; if the increased stipend will be made available to students who receive their funding directly from their university; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48498/22]

Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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520. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the €500 stipend increase to students completing their PhDs under Science Foundation Ireland and the Irish Research Council will be available to those PhD candidates working in Irish universities who have other sources of funding such as direct funding from the university itself; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48507/22]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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524. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if PhD students who receive their funding from the university itself will receive the €500 stipend increase announced in Budget 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48620/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 509, 519, 520 and 524 together.

Many PhD students receive stipends which are supported by Science Foundation Ireland and the Irish Research Council, both bodies under the aegis of my Department. However, PhD students may self-fund, or receive support from either their higher education institution or some other body - including private funders. Higher education institutions are autonomous institutions as provided for in legislation and on that basis the management of academic affairs, including the criteria governing the level of stipends paid to PhD students, is solely a matter for the relevant institution to determine in line with its own criteria.

With that in view, as an immediate and tangible relief against the challenges of the rising cost of living, in this Budget I am introducing:

- a once off payment in 2022 of €500 for PhD students who receive an IRC or SFI award.

- a €500 increase to the stipend baseline in 2023 for PhD students who receive an IRC or SFI award.

PhD students recipients may also, in certain circumstances, qualify for support from SUSI.

I should add that I am considering commencing a review of current PhD training provision, including supports for students such as stipends. I have asked my Department to set out a scope for such a review, building on previous work in this area and with a view to framing practical actions that can be implemented within the resources available and competing needs.