Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

70. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps being taken to deliver an increased provision of healthcare education, given the recent recognition by the Minister for Health that we need to approximately double the number of healthcare professionals we are training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6949/23]

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

In July 2022 I announced an increase in medicine places for EU students in Irish Medical Schools, alongside the Minister for Health. The agreement reached with the medical schools led to an increase of 60 places in September 2022, climbing to 120 in September 2023, and up to 200 by 2026.

This will mean by 2026 an additional 200 students will commence medicine each year. This increase was done at a pace and scale which is unprecedented and which, importantly, provides for continued multi-annual expansion. In addition, 135 new places in nursing programmes were introduced from last September.

The Higher Education Authority is currently running a process to identify where further additional capacity could be built in the higher education sector in a number of healthcare areas including Medicine and Nursing. It is the intention that further such processes for other disciplines will be run later in the year.

Significant engagement is ongoing between my Department, the Department of Health, and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, to develop a joined-up approach to meet system level demand across the health sector.

There are some fundamental issues, which are in the control of the health sector, which are prerequisites to enable expansion. These relate to guarantees of clinical placements, detailed and robust workforce planning projections and engagement with regulators. In addition to qualifying additional health professionals, success in the recruitment and retention of health professionals by the health sector will be key.

Future growth of provision in the higher education sector will be dependent on action in these areas by the appropriate authorities in the health sector.

My Department is committed to working closely with the Department of Health and its agencies to ensure that the conditions are in place to support further growth in educational provision.

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

72. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to improve the position of PhD candidates as a means to grow the talent pool of workers in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6944/23]

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

Impact 2030, Ireland’s Research and Innovation Strategy which I was pleased to launch in May of 2022 prioritises the nurturing and development of talent and excellence to build on Ireland’s reputation as an Island of Talent and a location for research excellence and impact.The quality of our researchers is fundamental to the quality of our research system and its collaboration with partners in industry and policymakers, both in Ireland and abroad.

The overarching objective of Impact 2030, is to maximise the impact of research and innovation on our economy, society and environment, and my vision is that Ireland will be a global leader in nurturing, developing and retaining talent to drive research and innovation in our higher education and research system, enterprises, communities and public services.

Under Pillar 4 of Impact 2030 we will ensure that researchers have the right skills development and career opportunities so that they can make their maximum contribution, whether in academia, industry, the public sector or elsewhere. Career pathways will be improved, starting with a review of State supports for PhD students.

As part of this commitment, my Department has begun a national review of State supports for PhD researchers.

I was pleased to appoint Dr Andrea Johnson and David Cagney as Co-Chairs for the review.

The scope of the review includes:

- Current PhD researcher supports including financial supports (stipends, SUSI supports and others);

- The adequacy, consistency and equity of current arrangements across research funders and higher education institutions, including equity and welfare considerations;

- The status of PhD researchers (student, employee) including a review of international comparators and models;

-Impact on the funding of research programmes of any adjustments to current supports;

- Graduate outcomes for PhD graduates including return on investment/benefits to the researcher;

- Visa requirements and duration for non-EU students.

The Review, informed by a robust evidence base, will be completed in the first half of 2023. The review will look at issues of adequacy, taking account of costs and other issues, such as the exemption of the PhD stipend from income tax.

It is anticipated that key stakeholders will be consulted as part of the review including, importantly, those representing PhD research students.

The review will conclude by making recommendations to me, which will inform actions to ensuring a sound framework of PhD supports is in place.