The purpose and reasons for the creation of a new client centred support structure for indigenous enterprise involving the amalgamation and restructuring of An Bord Tráchtála, Forbairt and FÁS is set out in the briefing document: "New Support Structures for Enterprise Development — the Issues and Concepts Outlined". Copies of this document are available in the Library. It is intended that the new agency should commence operations in July of this year.
I reject the Deputy's assertion that the needs of science have been damaged and ignored since the establishment of Forbairt, Forfás and IDA Ireland in 1993. In conjunction with my Departments office of Science and Technology, both Forbairt and Forfás have continued to strongly develop science and technology. Both Forfas and Forbairt have been working to ensure that Ireland maximises its involvement in the EU framework programmes for research and development. In addition, the measure four structure which brings together fundamental, strategic and applied research and involves the third level institutions and industry has proved to be a particularly important development. I am satisfied from consultation with the S&T community that, far from being damaging to science and technology, structures such as measure four are seen as a positive enhancement to Ireland's research effort which I have no intention of undermining.
Science and technology will continue to play a key role in the new structures. However, it should be stressed that the development of Ireland's science and technology base, covering diverse activities in areas such as agriculture, health, environment, education and industry, cannot be adequately catered for by a single agency. As I indicated in reply to a recent question from Deputy Owen, the co-ordination mechanisms which have been put in place via the Office of Science and Technology, Forfas and the Irish Council for Science, Technology and Innovation are designed to ensure that we continue to strengthen our technological base across the broad spectrum of science and technology activities. As is currently the case, Ireland will continue under the new structures to have a range of agencies and government Ministries dealing with specific areas of science and technology. This is also the case in the majority of EU member states.
In regard to the functions of the former Eolas, these were subsumed into Forbairt and Forfás when those bodies commenced operations in 1993. As already indicated, both agencies have been continuing to develop science and technology and to provide relevant support services which meet the requirements of clients. Such services have been evolving and will continue to do so in response to changing client needs.
