Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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296. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if funding will be sanctioned in order that research staff in all higher education institutions across the sector can access a public service pension scheme, in view of a business case from the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science requesting access to the single public service pension scheme for those researchers who are not currently able to join the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65556/25]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The prioritisation of funding for matters within the ambit of Further and Higher, Research, Innovation and Science, is one that falls, in the first instance, within the responsibility of the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research Innovation and Science. My Department plays a key role in developing budgetary parameters and monitoring overall expenditure in line with the objectives of the Government and agreed fiscal policy and is responsible for the sound management of public expenditure within the overall allocation agreed by Government.

This is an issue that has legal, policy and long-term funding implications both within and beyond the higher education sector and, as such, remains matter of ongoing engagement between my Department and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.