Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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111. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps that he intends to take to address the inequality in and the inadequacy of stipends across PhD research students which is now exacerbated by the recent Budget 2023 increase of €500 only to those in receipt of SFI and IRC stipends; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51700/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 609 together.

It is important to note that my Department allocates recurrent funding to the HEA for direct disbursement to HEA designated higher education institutions. However, as autonomous bodies, the internal disbursement of this funding is a matter for the individual institution.

As is clear from the actions already taken in the cost of living measures outlined in Budget 2023, my Department is monitoring the issue of stipends and the views expressed by students and other stakeholders, in the context of the resources available and the competing needs to which they can be allocated.

With that in view, as an immediate and tangible relief against the challenges of the rising cost of living, 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 student recipients may also, in certain circumstances, qualify for support from SUSI.

I am 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.