Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 7 Jun 2000

Vol. 520 No. 4

Written Answers. - Post-Graduate Research.

Richard Bruton

Question:

46 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the financial supports currently made available to postgraduate students undertaking research under the programmes reported by agencies funded by her Department; and if she has conducted any assessment of the way in which this financial package compares to that available in the UK, in the USA and in continental Europe. [16089/00]

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

Enterprise Ireland provides financial supports to postgraduate research students as follows:

Scheme	Value
Research student support under grants provided under the Basic and Strategic Research Grant Schemes. (support provided on project-by-project basis)	The scheme generally allocates an amount for student maintenance of £7,500 per year plus required fees. In addition, grant money may be allocated towards travel costs of a student to attend conferences or meet collaborators.
Research studentships under the Irish American Partnerships Masters Scholars Scheme (part funded by Enterprise Ireland)	Students receive £3,000 from a sponsoring company plus £2,000 from Enterprise Ireland.
Post-graduate studentships	Students receive a contribution of £2000 towards their maintenance costs
Post-doctoral fellowships	Fellows receive £20,000 a year for two years

While our Department has not carried out any formal comparisons between the financial assistance available to researchers in Ireland and abroad, I understand that the USA and most European countries have formal support structures in place for research students. It is difficult to draw conclusions from direct comparisons between national research funding mechanisms, due to the complexity of support structures involved and the differences in costs of living.

Enterprise Ireland periodically reviews the financial assistance which it provides to researchers, both postgraduate and post-doctoral, so as to ensure that the rates are appropriate to their purpose of supporting the highest level of excellence in research in Ireland. The position will be kept under review in the context of the development of new schemes for the period covered by the National Development Plan 2000-06, which contains a figure of £1.95 billion for research, technological development and innovation.