Vol. 509 No. 1
118 Ms Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 850 of 29 September 1999, the reasons the science and technology unit rejected a request for £500,000 funding over a three year period from the organisation concerned; and if she will reconsider this decision. [19878/99]
Funding for peer reviewed basic and strategic research is provided by this Department through the Office of Science and Technology to the National Research Support Fund Board, an independent board under the aegis of Enterprise Ireland. It is this independent board which decides on the allocation of funds, following an annual call for proposals. The board was established to decide on the allocation of funding for research projects under the operational programme for industry. The board is, accordingly, constrained by the necessity to avoid supporting research which falls more directly into the responsibility of the Health Research Board, which is the statutory body with responsibility for health research in Ireland.
The proposal for the funding of the Ocular Genetics Unit in Trinity College Dublin at a rate of approximately £500,000 per year for five years was outside the normal process of the annual call for proposals. Notwithstanding that, I asked Enterprise Ireland to examine it in order to identify its potential for assistance. Following the examination, it became apparent that the type of research involved came within the area of responsibility of the Health Research Board. In this circumstance, funding was not possible through the National Research Support Fund Board.
However, Enterprise Ireland identified two areas where assistance could be provided and the proposers were advised accordingly. These were the identification of potential opportunities for funding under the European Union Fifth Research Framework Programme; and assistance with the setting up of a campus company and the related support in raising venture capital. This would allow focused research to be undertaken which would be aimed at developing products. I understand that the proposers have made preliminary enquiries with Enterprise Ireland in relation to the above.
