Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

141. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the total number of PhD researchers; the percentage of PhD researchers who will receive the €500 stipend increase; the total number who will likely receive the increase in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50544/22]

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

145. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason that PhD students who are not funded by SFI and IRC have been excluded from receiving the bonus payment announced in Budget 2023; if this will be reconsidered and amended to include all PhD students given the current cost-of-living situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50662/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 141 and 145 together.

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.

Outside the remit of my agencies, the level of stipend paid by higher education institutions is a matter for the institutions themselves.

However, my Department is monitoring the issue of stipends and the views expressed by students and other stakeholders. I have met with PHD Workers Alliance representatives and the Union of Students in Ireland on the challenges facings students. Following on from the Budget and on foot of these engagements, I will be 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.

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

142. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the engagement that he has had with Maynooth University regarding the cancellation of the student centre (details supplied); the obligations that are on the university to those who paid the increased levy now that the project has been cancelled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50545/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Maynooth University recently informed my Department that its’ Governing Authority has taken the difficult decision to terminate the Maynooth University Student Centre contract.

My Department does not have any direct involvement in the project in question, as no direct exchequer funding was being provided by my Department for this project, which was solely being funded by European Investment Bank borrowings serviced by income from a student levy. However, all capital projects advanced by publicly funded Higher Education Institutions must comply with the provisions of the Public Spending Code. I understand following detailed consideration on a number of matters, including the risk associated with continuing with a project that would breach the Public Spending Code, the Governing Authority decided to terminate the contract.

Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are governed by the Universities Act 1997, the Institutes of Technologies Acts 1992 to 2006 and the Technological Universities Act 2018. Within the meaning of these Acts, HEIs are autonomous bodies and are responsible for their own day-to-day management and operational affairs including dealing with policy and procedure in relation to any levy payable by students for services or campus facilitates.

The expenditure that has been incurred to date on the project will be met by the University from financial reserves. No financial contribution is being sought from the Exchequer and there will be no impact on the student levy collected from the MU student body. Maynooth University are considering the most appropriate means of meeting the need for additional student spaces on campus, in the short and long term, in the overall context of achieving value for money in any future investment.

I met with Student representatives on a range of issues on Thursday last the 6th of October. The Student’s Union from Maynooth University were represented at this meeting and I listened to their concerns about the Student Centre and the Student Levy. I would strongly encourage the University to continue engagement with the student representative body, on the next steps for this project and I understand a further meeting is scheduled this week.

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

143. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the reduction in fees for third-level students will apply to students attending part-time courses such as the part-time BA in Social Care in Galway University; and the supports that will be provided for part-time students. [50551/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As part of Budget 2023 I have secured a significant cost of living package for third level students including a once-off €1,000 state financial support towards the undergraduate student contribution fee for higher education students eligible for my Department’s free fees schemes.

Students attending part time courses are not eligible for the free fees schemes and therefore the once off student contribution support of €1,000 in 22/23 cannot apply to students undertaking part time study.

Students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial difficulty can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. As part of the cost-of-living measures announced in Budget 2023 an additional €8 million has been invested in the Student Assistance Fund for the current academic year 2022/23. This Fund assists students in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. It is open to both full and part-time registered students on courses of not less than one year's duration leading to an undergraduate or postgraduate qualification. Information on the fund is available through the Access Officer in the third level institution attended. This fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis. More information on the SAF is available at www.studentfinance.ie.

Tax relief on tuition fees may be available for students attending part-time courses. Details in relation to this relief are available from the Revenue Commissioners.

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

144. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a student (details supplied) in a third-level institution can transfer courses while still availing of the free fees' initiative; if there is a certain timeframe in such instances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50558/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

MTU and UCC are autonomous bodies under legislation and the day-to-day operation of the institutions including the procedures related to the withdrawal from courses; the refund of any fees paid or enrollment on courses via transfer are matters for the institution.

In this regard students seeking to transfer will need to follow the procedures of the institutions and any student seeking to transfer courses should contact the admission office of the relevant institutions for advice appropriate to their individual circumstances.

It is pertinent for students to consider the impact departing a course may have on their access to free fees as a repeat period of study is not generally allowable under the terms of the scheme. In a scenario where it is possible for the institutions to facilitate the transfer of a year one free fees eligible student during the current academic year 22/23 with the student beginning their new free fees eligible course during 22/23 it would be expected that a student should continue to be regarded as a free fees eligible student.

As referenced above, the actual position will be determined by the institutions capacity to facilitate the transfer in this academic year, and I recommend that any student seeking transfer courses contact the admission office of the relevant institutions for the most appropriate guidance on the options available to them.

Link to criteria: www.hea.ie/funding-governance-performance/funding/student-finance/course-fees/

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

146. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to some PhD students who have been deemed ineligible to receive the SUSI postgraduate grant due to their date of birth at the time of application, despite being financially independent of their parents in advance of the application and despite their turning 23 years of age in advance of beginning their PhD studies; and if this will be reviewed given the financial pressures experienced by PhD students. [50663/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

A student may be assessed as an independent student (i.e., assessed without reference to parental income and address) if he/she has attained the age of 23 on the 1st of January of the year of first entry to an approved course and is not ordinarily resident with his/her parents from the previous 1st October. Otherwise, he/she would be assessed as a dependent student, i.e., assessed with reference to parental income and address. If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, she/he may appeal, in the first instance, to SUSI. Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down in writing by SUSI and remains of the view that the scheme has not been interpreted correctly in his/her case, an appeal may be submitted to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board within the required timeframe. Such appeals can be made by the appellant online via www.studentgrantappeals.ie.

The Deputy will appreciate that the student grant appeals process has been established to investigate and address any issues concerning student grant applications. As there were no details provided for the student the Deputy refers to, I cannot comment on the application status of these students. If the Deputy has further enquiries relating to the specific application, they can be emailed direct to SUSI oireachtas@susi.ie. Staff in SUSI are responding to email queries within a matter of days.

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

147. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of appeals heard by the independent student grants appeal board in 2021; and if he will provide a breakdown of the number of appeals that were upheld, partially upheld, overturned and withdrawn in 2021. [50744/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The number of appeals heard the Independent Student Grant Appeals Board in 2021 was 724. Of those appeals, 424 cases were upheld, 244 were overturned, 44 were overturned and referred back to the awarding authority for further assessment.A further 10 appeals were withdrawn by the appellant in 2021.