Irish PhD researchers left disappointed as stipend raise is just half of what was hoped for

The Irish government has announced a €3000 (£2600) increase in stipends for PhDs funded by two government research bodies, rather than the hoped for €6000 or more. PhD researchers have expressed disappointment as the stipend boost falls below the recommendation of an independent review to increase them to €25,000 per year.

The increase applies only to PhDs funded by Science Foundation Ireland and the Irish Research Council, around 30% of all PhDs, bringing their stipend from €19,000 to €22,000. ‘This will serve to widen existing pay inequality among PhDs working in the same offices and labs,’ said the Postgraduate Workers Organisation (PWO) union, noting in a statement that pay can be as low as €9000 per annum.