Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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1806. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills what progress has been made on the access to public service pensions in some higher education institutions for researchers since March 2022, to give them equal status with their colleagues who can avail of this access; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16610/23]

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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1807. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the potential difficulties in the recruitment and maintaining of staff in the research area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16611/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1806 and 1807 together.

I am firmly of the view that there should be access to public service pensions for research staff in all higher education institutions across the sector.

In order to unify our approach to the treatment of Researcher grades, my Department has been engaging positively with management bodies, the Department for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform and the Department of Education on a business case to support access to the single public service pension scheme for those researchers who are not currently able to join the scheme.

This is a complex matter and is admittedly taking some time to resolve, but I wish to assure the Deputy that officials are working to achieve a resolution as soon as possible.