Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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838. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to clarify the role of an organisation (details supplied) regarding the allocation of funding for higher education institutions and research; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36413/24]

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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839. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if adherence to the charter of an organisation (details supplied) is a condition of funding for higher education institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36414/24]

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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840. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if higher education institutions that fail to conform to the charter of an organisation (details supplied) to the same degree as other institutions receive less funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36415/24]

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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841. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the alignment of research proposals with the charter of an organisation (details supplied) is a criterion considered in the decision to award funding for research; if research proposals which align more with the organisations charter experience an advantage in competitive applications for funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36416/24]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 838, 839, 840 and 841 together.

Athena Swan Ireland do not have a role in the allocation of funding by the HEA to higher education institutions. The allocation of recurrent grant funding to institutions is a matter for the HEA and is approved by the HEA Board.

Designated institutions of higher education set out their contribution to the achievement of institutional and national strategy in performance agreements with the HEA. HEIs may include actions related to equality, diversity and inclusion in their performance agreements. The HEA awards performance funding in recognition of the exemplary contributions that higher education institutions are making to society, the environment and economy at local, national and international levels.

In 2016, the first National Gender Equality Review of Irish Higher Education Institutions was conducted. The report of the independent expert group, recommended that Athena Swan award attainment be a requirement for research funding eligibility (Recommendation 3.8). The Gender Equality Taskforce, established in November 2017 developed the Gender Action Plan 2018-2020 to accelerate the rate of progress towards gender equality in Irish HEIs and ensure that progress is constant and sustainable. The Gender Equality Taskforce gave the HEA responsibility for determining the optimal timing and requirements in relation to Athena Swan certification. To be eligible to apply for competitive research funding from national funding agencies, higher education institutions must comply with timelines set out by the HEA for engagement with the Athena Swan Ireland charter. Currently, all HEIs with whom the HEA works under statute and who are in receipt of core funding from the HEA are eligible to apply for competitive research funding from national funding agencies.

For competitive research funding, individual scheme criteria and research funding awards are a matter for research funding agencies.

From 2022 onwards, the European Commission requires that applying public bodies, research organisations and higher education institutions, from EU Member States and associated countries, have a Gender Equality Plan or equivalent strategy (which meets a set of mandatory requirements set out by the European Commission) in place to be eligible for funding under Horizon Europe. Gender Equality Plans developed via the Athena Swan Ireland charter framework assist Irish HEIs in meeting the European Commission’s requirements.

I trust this clarifies this matter for the Deputy.