Vol. 434 No. 5
65 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the background to the recent discontinuation of the applied research scholarships programme administered by Eolas; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The Applied Research Scholarship Scheme administered by Eolas has not been discontinued. As I stated in a related parliamentary question on 1 July 1993, officials of my Department have been examining ways to maximise use of the funds available for this scheme. Decisions taken in the Estimates earlier in the year meant that funds available for 1993 were largely committed to roll-over costs from previous years.
I am pleased to be able to inform the Deputy that the examination of the scheme has been completed and that funding for 30 places this year has been secured. Eolas is in the process of making application forms available to prospective candidates.
It should be noted that these 30 awards are in addition to some 35 places which Eolas plan to co-fund this year in association with Irish industry.
