Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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319. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the progress of the National Review into PhD conditions; if he will provide a full work plan for the review as laid out by chairs and the meetings the chairs may have had or plan to have with stakeholders; the anticipated date of completion for the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7813/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Impact 2030, Ireland’s Research and Innovation Strategywhich 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.

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.

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 Co-Leads for the Review commenced their work in January 2023. As part of detailed preparatory work, they have considered the terms of reference, written stakeholder submissions and the evidence base which has been compiled for the review. Work is underway on reviewing international models. Informed by this preparatory work the Co-Leads are designing the process for stakeholder engagement which will include both stakeholder meetings and written submissions, including meetings with those representing PhD researchers.

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

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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320. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to clarify the process by which chairs of the review into PhD conditions were selected and to provide details of the remuneration awarded to chairs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7814/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The purpose of the review of PhD supports is to contribute to the development of a set of national guidelines for supports for PhD researchers that fosters a consistent standard of experience. This is a key commitment in IMPACT 2030 the National Strategy for Research and Innovation published in May last year. There are circa 11,000 people undertaking PhD studies in Ireland at any time. In the context of the cost of living crises there was an urgent need to bring forward the implementation of the commitment so that PhD supports are fit for purpose. The review will build on the previous work on reforms in the tertiary education and research system, including the national doctoral framework, student supports and the equality, diversity and inclusion agenda.

Officials of my Department identified a shortlist of persons with appropriate high level experience to oversee this review. The experience identified as most appropriate included talent and skills management, researcher careers, high level skills development and human resource management, industrial relations and Public Service management. They were then approached to see if they would be willing to serve in that role, noting the urgency in establishing the review . Mr. David Cagney, recently retired as Assistant Secretary and Head of Civil Service HR in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and Dr. Andrea Johnson, Vice President of WorkHuman and Chairperson of Women in Technology and Science both agreed to serve.

In line with established procedure,my Department obtained sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to pay each co-chair a per diem rate of €200 for up to 10 days for their work on the review.

I am delighted that two such qualified people as Mr Cagney and Dr. Johnson agreed to conduct this review urgently and at modest cost, having regard to the importance of the review

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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321. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to request the chairs of the review into PhD conditions contact an organisation (details supplied) and to meet with the organisation as the body representing PhD researchers in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7815/23]