Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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50. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider expanding the eligibility of funding through the Irish Research Council to enable part-time PhD students to qualify for these funding opportunities to ensure more students engage in high level research; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26265/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland was established on 1st of August 2024, as the new competitive research and innovation funding agency for Ireland. The Irish Research Council (IRC) was dissolved on 4 November 2024, in line with the provisions of the Research and Innovation Act 2024, and all functions of the IRC were transferred to Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland.

In terms of supports for part-time students, my Department has been working to broaden the scope of undergraduate funding support, as supporting part-time undergraduate study is highly beneficial for access and inclusion. Legislation last year (S.I. No. 370/2024 - Student Part - Time Fee Scheme for Specified Undergraduate Courses 2024) has provided support for part-time students on specific undergraduate courses for the first time. This is the first time any grant has been provided for part-time education under the Student Support Act 2011.

How individuals choose to structure their PhD studies is a matter for discussion with their relevant higher education institution. My Department and SUSI currently only provide student support for specified postgraduate and PhD studies for full time students.

In relation to part-time PhDs, programmes allowing such would have implications for stipends, in relation to tax purposes. Stipends are only paid tax free on the basis that the student is in full time education.

Research Ireland does not currently support part-time PhD research for several reasons, including restrictions around full-time education for individuals on a student visa, and the way in which PhD projects often form part of larger research programmes on relevant Research Ireland grants.

However, Research Ireland is committed to minimising barriers and ensuring that everyone has an opportunity to realise their role in the research endeavour. Per the Research Ireland External Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Strategy 2023-2028, increasing the engagement of Historically Underserved Communities on the design, conduct, and evaluation of research and ensuring that Research Ireland grant holders and their teams represent the diversity of the research community are key goals.

As such, the Department will continue to engage with relevant stakeholders across the R&I sector, including the Higher Education Authority and Research Ireland, to explore ways to improve the diversity of the R&I community.