Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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17. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he is aware of the ongoing issues faced by PhD researchers funded by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) regarding the implementation of the recommended stipend increase from €18,500 to €25,000; the steps being taken to ensure that the necessary additional funding is allocated to support this increase; if the SEAI has received any additional funding to support the stipend increase; the measures that are being taken to ensure that all eligible PhD researchers receive the increased stipend as recommended; if he will commit to addressing this funding shortfall to support young researchers and promote research and innovation in Ireland; if he will take immediate action to resolve the financial difficulties faced by researchers due to rising living costs and inflation, given the importance of supporting research and innovation for Ireland’s future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14427/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Following the outcome of the independent “National Review of State Supports for PhD Researchers”, directed by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS), SEAI announced in 2023 that the eligible research stipend budget contribution for SEAI-funded PhD students was increasing from €18,500 to €25,000 per annum effective from 1 January 2024.

Following this announcement, all PhD stipends funded by SEAI since the 2023 call have received the increased €25,000 per annum in budget contributions.

SEAI also engaged with universities that are hosting SEAI funded projects awarded prior to 2023 with active PhD students. The universities then confirmed that in some cases the original awarding value was sufficient to apply this increase to their PhD students, but for others was challenging.

For these cases, SEAI is now progressing through the necessary internal review and approvals processes to progress a solution, with a decision expected by this Friday 28 March.