Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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505. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will work with his Cabinet colleagues about furthering the recent extension of the stamp 1G permissions to cover spouses of non-EU PhD students. [23987/24]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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In October 2022, an independent and comprehensive National Review of State Supports for PhD Researchers was announced; the first time that this issue has been considered holistically in this manner. The first report of the Co-Chairs, Dr Andrea Johnson and Mr David Cagney, was published in summer 2023. In it they recommended an increase towards an optimum PhD stipend level of €25,000, subject to funding availability.

In Budget 2024, funding was secured to increase the PhD stipend offered by my competitive research funding agencies, the Irish Research Council and Science Foundation Ireland, from €19,000 to €22,000 annually, i.e. a 15.8% increase. This builds on the increase secured under Budget 2023, demonstrating my Department's clear and consistent commitment to this issue. My officials continue to engage with the budgetary processes in order to continue our progress on this.

The Co-Chairs' final review report encompasses the outstanding elements of their Terms of Reference, including considerations with regard to whether PhD students are to be classified as employees or continue as students and issues particularly affecting under-represented groups. Decisions around the classification of this cohort of individuals as students or employees will influence the treatment of non-EU PhD enrolments.

The publication of this independent final report later this summer, along with my Department's response to the deliberations of the Co-Chairs, will help to provide clarity in a range of areas. We look forward to further engagement with all relevant Government Departments in this regard.