Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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527. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he continues to pursue the objective of providing more graduates in both the academic and technical sectors in the future; if he has identified specific targets in this area; the extent to which those targets are being met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27246/24]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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528. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which fourth level educational qualifications continue to be advanced in line with requirements, with particular reference to availability of academic graduates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27247/24]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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533. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he proposes to broaden the higher education opportunities for undergraduates with a view to maximisation of their opportunities in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27252/24]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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534. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the degree to which he expects science to play an increased role in the higher education sector, with particular reference to ensuring an adequate number of graduates to meet the demands of the workplace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27253/24]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 527, 528, 533 and 534 together.

It is a top priority of my Department to remove barriers to third level education. Since the establishment of my Department in June 2020, there has been significant progress in enhancing both quality and access in the tertiary education system. As the Deputy is aware, a substantial amount of additionality has been introduced under the existing infrastructure, to meet the demand for acute skills needs, particularly in the health sector. The delivery of such programmes is complex and requires collaboration from multiple Departments and agencies to ensure sustainability and the maintenance of standards of quality provision.

A number of initiatives have been introduced in the past number of years to broaden the pathways to higher education. A recent example I would like to highlight is the Social Work tertiary degree with the National Tertiary Office and the Social Work Apprenticeship, with the National Apprenticeship Office. This will significantly add to the number of social workers who can be trained and these new pathways complement the existing provision and allow for a diverse student population. I hope to facilitate similar partnerships with professional practitioners and the tertiary education sector replicated in other disciplines.

A significant amount of investment has been made available to progress this work. On May 4th 2022 the Government published Funding the Future, a landmark policy framework on the sustainable funding of the higher education system. It identified €307m as the quantum of annual funding to deliver enhanced performance of the higher education system. This investment is being made by Government over successive budgets. The framework also identified five priority strands of work, which increased core funding could advance, including a strand in relation to enhancing the quality and international standing of the higher education system.

Budget 2023 saw €40.2m secured under Funding the Future while Budget 2024 saw an additional €65.5 million in core higher education funding. This brings the total additional core funding secured since the publication of Funding the Future in May 2022 to €105.7m. Core higher education funding remains a priority for my Department, and I will continue to work to secure right-sized funding for the sector.

Also under Budget 2024, funding was secured to increase the competitive PhD stipend awards provided by Science Foundation Ireland and the Irish Research Council from €19,000 to €22,000 per annum, building on the additional funding that was secured under Budget 2023 and demonstrating my Department’s consistent commitment to this issue. My officials continue to engage with the budgetary processes in order to continue our progress on this.