Vol. 441 No. 5
190 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for Education the proposals, if any, she has in relation to supporting post-graduate students in research and development projects in the sciences in universities and higher institutions; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
211 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education the steps, if any, she intends to take to encourage universities to further or extend units employing post-graduate students carrying out market research, environmental research, industrial research, medical research and social research; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 190 and 211 together. I am fully aware of the need to encourage research in our higher education institutions not only because of its crucial role in the advancement of learning in all academic disciplines but also because of the contribution applied research can make to economic development.
About 12 per cent of university students are engaged in postgraduate work while in the sciences the figure is in the region of 21 per cent.
The advanced technical skills programme which is assisted under the European Social Fund has a useful contribution to make and is being restructured so that the resources available will be directed more specifically to meet the needs of the sectors identified as priorities under the National Development Plan.
The 1992 legislation for the Dublin Institute of Technology and the Regional Technical Colleges includes a specific remit to these institutions to engage in research, consultancy and development work and to provide services in relation to these matters.
I have approved senior positions as head of development in the regional technical colleges so that the colleges can, inter alia, fully develop their role in this area taking account of the specific statutory regional remit of these colleges.
