Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 4 Jun 1998

Vol. 491 No. 7

Written Answers. - Research Funding.

Richard Bruton

Question:

227 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the new cross departmental initiatives in science research and development which he has introduced since coming into office spanning his Department and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. [13287/98]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. Treacy)

In 1998, for the first time the Government has provided extra substantial dedicated finance, for the funding of research and development, through the Department of Education and Science. The new allocation of £5 million has been included in the 1998 Estimates for the Department of Education and Science, for recurrent funding of research and development projects. This funding is to be made available for research and development in the humanities, the social sciences and science and technology.

On Tuesday 26 May, I announced arrangements for the programme of scientific and technological research in third level institutions.

The new programme, to be administered through the Higher Education Authority, is as follows: £3.5 million will be set aside for science and technology proposals, which demonstrate a link with the strategic development of the institution, from which they come. This is the core of the programme and will involve putting in place, a system of competitive bidding, between third level institutions, for submitted research programmes, based on, and consistent with, the stated research policies and strategies of the individual institutions. There will be a £0.5 million allocation for studentships in science and technology. This will involve direct support for doctoral and post-doctoral students, administered through the same competitive bidding process. A sum of £0.5 million will enable the Higher Education Authority to fund projects approved by the national research support fund board during 1998. The remaining £0.5 million is to be set aside for proposals relating to the humanities and social sciences. The details of these proposals are being finalised at present and will be announced soon.

This funding is absolutely supplementary to the existing sources of funding for research and development, including the various teaching and research budgets, of the higher education institutions, including various schemes, administered by or on behalf of the office of science and technology at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

In relation to the funding position for the national research support fund board, which is attached to my responsibilities in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the position is that the allocation to this board has increased from £7.5 million to £8.8 million over the period 1996 to 1998, which represents an increase of 17 per cent. Out of this amount, an allocation of around £2 millionper annum, has been allocated for basic research, over the same period. A detailed breakdown of the actual allocations is set out in the attached table.

My own appointment in the two Departments, ensures that there is effective co-ordination of Science and Technology issues and there is also ongoing contact at official level. In addition the interdepartmental committee on science, technology and innovation, chaired by me, provides an effective mechanism for consideration of science and technology priorities between the Government Departments involved in funding science and technology. A permanent independent advisory body, the Irish Council for Science, Technology and Innovation, has been set up and this has proved to be a very valuable source of advice, on a range of issues. In addition, Forfás has played a major role in the provision of policy advice and co-ordination, as well as promoting science and technology, for economic and social development. These co-ordination mechanisms are designed to ensure that we continue to strengthen our research base, both to promote the development of indigenous industry and to help increase the level of research and development activity in foreign owned firms located in Ireland.

National Research Support Fund Board Budget.

	1996	1997	1998
	£'000	£'000	£'000
Measure 4: Research
Scientific Research:-
— Basic	2004	2000	2000
— Drugs Initiative	525	291	207
— Software Initiative	–	250	–
Sub-Total	2529	2541	2207

	1996	1997	1998
Strategic Research	1220	1389	2150
Universities Applied Research	1300	1400	1700
ITs Applied Research	750	1000	1000
Post Graduate Support
— M.Sc.	294	240	312
— Ph.D.	965	850	850
Post Doctorates	200	280	200
International Collaboration	240	220	300
Administration	50	80	80
Sub-Total	5019	5459	6592
Total Measure 4	7548	8000	8799

The Government has also set up the £250 million scientific and technological education investment fund. This fund will result, in particular, in large increases in the funding of capital equipment in higher education. Approximately £15 million will be spent over the next three years, on capital investment in research and development and approximately £30 million on third level equipment generally.