I assume that the Deputy's question relates to section 8 (3) (m) of the Science and Technology Act, 1987, which states that a specific function of Eolas shall be: "to advise and assist inventors in registering and protecting their inventions."
This, along with the other functions of the former Eolas, was assigned to the new development agency, Forfas, under the Industrial Development Act, 1993. This particular function was subsequently devolved to Forbairt and the Forbairt "inventions programme" addresses this requirement by providing a range of services to inventors, including assessment of the commercial viability and marketability of an idea and advice and assistance with patent applications.
Financial support for this is provided out of the Forbairt annual grant-in-aid. Forbairt are allocating some £300,000 for this activity in 1995. The amount has been increasing progressively over the past five years, from a level of about £90,000 in 1990.
I understand that Forbairt is currently supporting 45 on-going projects, of which 27 have reached the production stage and the remainder are at various stages of technical and — or commercial development. In any one year, Forbairt receive a large number of applications for support under the inventions programme and only a very few of these are found to merit support.