Ned O'Keeffe
Question:267 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment if he will make available the science and technology budget for 1996; and when this matter will be debated. [10182/96]
Written Answers. - Science and Technology Budget.
I am not clear whether the Deputy is referring to the annual science budget or to the science and technology programme operated by my Department. This latter programme has a budget of £25.113 million in 1996. This represents an increase of £4.413 million on 1995, including an additional £4 million to implement the priority actions rising out of the report of the Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (STIAC). The Minister of State with responsibility for Commerce, Science and Technology announced details of the allocation of the £4 million on 19 March 1996. These matters can be debated in the course of the annual Estimates and budget debates or indeed at any other time and, as the Deputy will be aware, we had a general debate on S & T matters in this House in the last year.
The science budget is a compilation of all the financial allocations by Government each year to institutions engaged in any activity related to science and technology. This document is laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas. The Minister of State with responsibility for Commerce, Science and Technology would expect to have the 1996 science budget so presented well before the end of this year.