Nora Owen
Question:269 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Education and Science the way in which he will spend the £5 million which has been allocated for scientific research; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16791/98]
Written Answers. - Research Funding.
In 1998, for the first time the Government has provided substantial dedicated funding 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 26 May l998 and 11 June 1998, arrangements were announced for the programme of scientific and technological research in third level institutions. The programme, to be administered through the Higher Education Authority, is as follows. A sum of £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 postdoctoral 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 for scholarships for research in the humanities and social sciences.
This funding is supplementary to the existing sources of funding for research and development, including the various teaching and research budges of the higher education institutions, including various schemes administered by, or on behalf of, the Office for Science and Technology at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.