Thursday, 24 Sep 2026

Further and Higher Education

Ceisteanna (516)

Brendan Smith

Ceist:

516. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the government has considered utilizing accumulated surplus balances in the National Training Fund to address identified structural funding deficits in the higher education sector; and whether exceptional arrangements have been examined to allow such funding to be deployed outside of existing departmental budgetary expenditure ceilings. [67958/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

Deputy, thank you for your question.

The Government has actively considered the use of the National Training Fund (NTF) surplus to support the funding needs of the tertiary education sector, including higher education. The Funding the Future framework, published in May 2022, identified a requirement for an additional €307 million in core funding to deliver enhanced performance, strategic reform and strengthened quality outcomes across the higher education system. Since then, an additional €174 million has been secured through Exchequer and employer funding, with a further €100 million in higher education funding committed from the NTF by 2030.

More broadly, Budget 2025 announced a €1.5 billion investment package for the tertiary education sector through to 2030, supporting higher and further education, skills development, apprenticeships, research and related infrastructure. This package includes significant additional investment in higher education and forms part of the Government's response to the sustainability and capacity challenges identified in Funding the Future.

However, expenditure from the NTF remains subject to the public expenditure framework. Any increase in NTF spending must be accommodated within my Department's overall expenditure ceiling or supported by a Government decision to provide additional expenditure capacity within the wider fiscal framework. Accordingly, NTF resources cannot be deployed outside established expenditure ceiling arrangements without such approval.

The NTF surplus has accumulated primarily due to strong employment growth and the corresponding increase in levy receipts in recent years. While the Government is committed to drawing down a substantial portion of this surplus, it is also important that the Fund maintains an appropriate reserve to safeguard against economic uncertainty and fluctuations in future income. Maintaining such a reserve helps ensure that sufficient resources remain available to support skills, training and lifelong learning objectives over the longer term.

I am continuing to engage with colleagues across Government, including the Minister for Finance, on the expenditure ceiling restraints that affect the rate at which NTF resources can be deployed. While I am keen to progress this matter; decisions on the level of expenditure that can be drawn down from the NTF is ultimately a matter for Government through the overall fiscal and budgetary framework and is not determined by my Department alone.

Further and Higher Education

Ceisteanna (517)

Brendan Smith

Ceist:

517. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the full cost of pay awards arising under Government-approved national pay agreements will be provided through recurring core grant funding to higher education institutions in 2027; and whether this will include funding to address recognised legacy shortfalls associated with previous pay agreements. [67956/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

The Deputy will be aware that the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (DPER) have lead responsibility for managing public service pay and conditions, in the context of the overall management of the public finances and the budgetary process.

Where funding increases are required to meet the cost of public pay agreements, my Department is notified by DPER as part of the annual estimates process.

My officials continue to work with their counterparts in DPER, and with the HEA and the higher education sector, to ensure that the funding provided is consistent with the anticipated cost increases arising from public pay agreements.

As the Deputy will appreciate, decisions on budget allocations will be made in the context of Government decision-making on the fiscal and expenditure framework for 2027 and beyond. However, following a Government Decision on April 20 to levy Government Departments, my Department is required to put in place plans to deliver savings and efficiencies equal to maintaining expenditure at the levy limits set by the Department of Public Expenditure. This levy will impact on the quantum of funding available to me to deliver on key Government priorities for the higher education sector in the coming period.

While I cannot confirm specific items that will be included in the next Budget, I can nevertheless assure the Deputy that I will continue to argue for further enhancements to the sustainable funding of higher education in the forthcoming Estimates process.

Budget 2027

Ceisteanna (518)

Brendan Smith

Ceist:

518. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will give detailed consideration to the requests outlined by a national organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67963/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

As I look ahead to Budget 2027 it is a priority for me to continue to invest in the development of the further and higher education system, in line with the Programme for Government through a range of core and targeted funding mechanisms.

I have met with the organisation to which the Deputy refers in June to discuss their pre-budget submission and my officials continue to engage with them on key issues that emerge. Stakeholder engagement is an important element in identifying priority funding options ahead of the annual budget.

It is important to say that there has been a significant improvement in the funding to the higher education sector since the establishment of my Department, with recurrent funding to the higher education system increasing by nearly three quarters of a billion euro in that time. This includes €174 million additional annually towards the €307 million funding enhancement identified by Government under Funding the Future.

As the Deputy will appreciate, decisions on budget allocations will be made in the context of Government decision-making on the fiscal and expenditure framework for 2027. This is consistent with the budgetary and Estimates process to be agreed by Government in the coming weeks.

While I cannot confirm specific items that will be included in the next Budget, what I can assure the Deputy is that I will continue to argue for further enhancements to the sustainable funding of higher education in the forthcoming Estimates process.

Further and Higher Education

Ceisteanna (519)

Conor D. McGuinness

Ceist:

519. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the manner in which the recruitment of 25 professor positions for the TU sector will be advanced, including the timeline for recruitment; whether there will be a phased approach; whether individual TUs will compete to secure funding for positions, or if each TU has been assigned a number of positions for which they may recruit; if in the case of the latter the allocation by institution, and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67849/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

I thank the Deputy for his question in relation to the recruitment of professor positions in Technological Universities.

On the 18th of September 2026, I was delighted to authorise the first recruitment phase for Professorial academic grades in Ireland's Technological Universities (TUs). This marks a significant milestone in the development of the sector and is one which will strengthen the sector's capacity to deliver world-class research, innovation and education following a long consultation process.

The establishment of a Professorship grade in the TU sector implements a key recommendation of the 2022 OECD review of technological university academic career structures and fulfils an important Programme for Government commitment to strengthen the Technological University sector and ensure it has the tools it needs to continue driving innovation, regional development and skills growth right across the country.

The 25 Professor posts are being funded through the Targeted Enhancement Fund (TEF), which is administered by the Higher Education Authority (HEA). The fund provides €65.8 million in targeted support for initiatives that are critical to the strategic development of higher education institutions. Following the application process last year eligible HEIs have already received their allocations under this fund and have agreed workplans in place, including the filling of five Professorial grade posts per Technological University, thereby ensuring a balanced regional spread of these vital posts.

The initial phase of recruitment providing 25 Professorship grade posts will support the development of academic leadership and research excellence in strategically important disciplines, including Veterinary Surgery and Rural Medicine, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacy, Biotechnology, Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, Biomedical Engineering, Climate and Sustainability.

It is envisaged that a further 25 professorial posts will progress at a later stage.

As autonomous institutions, it will be the responsibility of each TU to recruit for these positions through an open, competitive process with due regard given to measures to promote gender equality at all stages of the search and selection process.

The Higher Education Authority has communicated my authorisation to the Technological Universities allocated under this first phase, and I look forward to seeing appointments made to these posts in the coming months.

Further and Higher Education

Ceisteanna (520)

Conor D. McGuinness

Ceist:

520. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason a level eight (honours) degree (details supplied) is not included in the SUSI student grant scheme 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67810/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

The main support available to students is the statutory based Student Grant Scheme which is administered by SUSI. Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.

The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for SUSI to determine.

Blended Learning Courses are regarded as part-time courses for Student Grant Scheme purposes regardless of whether blended attendance is full-time, and as such, do not qualify for grant assistance under the Student Grant Scheme. As the course in question takes a blended approach it does not qualify for grant assistance under the Student Grant Scheme.

My Department introduced the Student Part-Time Fee Scheme and Regulations for Specified Undergraduate Courses for the first time in September 2024. The Scheme provides fee support to eligible part-time students attending specified publicly funded undergraduate courses leading to a major award and encompassing both in-person and blended (part in-person, part online) provision. The course in question is not listed as one of the approve courses in the Scheme.

My Department reviews policy on an ongoing basis, having regard to overall resource constraints and other competing demands in the further and higher education sector. Amendments or extension to the student grant legislation has financial implications and are considered in the context of overall budgetary constraints and the large number of competing demands on available funding.

Replies to Questions Nos. 521 to 524, inclusive, not received from Department.