Vol. 530 No. 4
6 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach if he will outline the precise relationship between Massachusetts Institute of Technology and MediaLab Europe in the context of the development of the digital media district in Dublin. [2980/01]
7 Mrs. Owen asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on the relationship between the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and MediaLab Europe in relation to the development of a digital media district in Dublin's inner city. [3739/01]
8 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach the progress made in regard to plans for the development for the digital media village in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4026/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 to 8, inclusive, together.
When I answered Dáil questions on 6 December 2000, I provided a description of MediaLab Europe and the digital media district, now being promoted as the Digital Hub.
As part of the decision to establish MediaLab Europe, legal agreements were concluded between the Government and MIT, the Government and MediaLab Europe and between MIT and MediaLab Europe setting out in detail the undertakings of all the parties involved.
The agreement between MIT and MediaLab Europe broadly covers intellectual property rights; undertakings regarding the contribution and input of MIT staff, researchers and students at MediaLab Europe; arrangements on commercial sponsorship of research projects undertaken at MediaLab Europe; and financial arrangements between MIT and MediaLab Europe.
The Government is investing £28 million in establishing MediaLab Europe, with £8.4 million of this due to MIT. Already, £7.4 million has been paid to MIT and £6.6 million has been paid to MediaLab Europe. In addition, £15 million has been allocated for the purchase of a suitable premises for MediaLab Europe. The premises will remain in State ownership and will be leased to MediaLab Europe at a nominal rent. A fund of £1 million per annum, to be administered by the Higher Education Authority, has also been created for collaborative research between MediaLabEurope and Irish universities. To date, 11 projects have received approval.
The Government separately decided to establish a digital media district which will be clustered in the Liberties, Coombe and Thomas Street areas, with MediaLab Europe at its heart. An executive services team, appointed by Digital Media Development Limited, the body set up by the Government to oversee the development of the Digital Hub, is currently working on a strategic development programme to ensure that it becomes a premier international location for Internet, multimedia and information and communication technology industries on the basis that it ensures world class quality and innovation in enterprise; respects the existing character and heritage of the Liberties, Coombe and Thomas Street areas; employs best practice in the construction and renewal of a balanced range of facilities to make up the Digital Hub; and engages the local community in the development process, not least through maximising the benefit from learning and employment opportunities.
A priority for the company in the start-up phase is consultation with the local community. An initial information brochure has been distributed door to door to residents and businesses. This brochure was also mailed to all TDs, Senators and Dublin city councillors inviting feedback. Contact has since been made with all TDs and councillors representing the local area. Since January, the executive services team has begun liaising with local community groups in order to inform and involve them in the preparation of a vision document for the Digital Hub to be produced in April 2001. In tandem with this ongoing process, a questionnaire is to be distributed to each householder and business in the local area in February to give a complete opportunity for comment, feedback and input into the development of the project.
The Green Party is keen to see the establishment of a high skilled, low environmental impact technological base in Ireland. However, we are also keen that any moneys funding IT research should be open to tender to Irish institutes and individuals. Why is that not the case in this instance? Does the Taoiseach understand, as I do, that other institutes such as the Centre for the Study of Language and Information at Stanford, are prepared to come to Ireland without receiving any "hello" money? Rutgers University has expressed a similar desire. Why is it necessary to provide what The Irish Times quotes as £40 million State funding – the Taoiseach outlined a number of other figures including a sum of £28 million – if other institutes would be happy to locate here in the absence of such funding?
With the greatest respect to other institutions, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and MediaLab Europe are much sought after, world renowned organisations. Thankfully, Mr. Ira Magaziner, President Clinton's adviser, put us in touch with these organisations some years ago as a result of which Mr. Negroponte, a world renowned expert in this area, agreed to seriously consider Ireland as a multimedia centre. Ireland got in before other European countries. MIT and MediaLab Europe are currently considering the location of a project in India which, if successful, will probably be far larger than the Irish one. I do not deny that other bodies may be interested in locating here but the Deputy will be aware of the high powered people on the board – Mr. Nicholas Negroponte, the chairman, Dr. Rudolph Burger, who has taken over as chief executive officer, Mr. Gerhard Schulmeyer, current chief executive officer of Siemens, Mr. Bob Metcalf, founder of 3Com who is currently with International Data Group, Mr. Larry Bacow, chancellor of MIT, Mr. Denis O'Brien, Mr. Danny O'Hare, ex-president of DCU, Mr. Red Burns, head of Communication Multi-media in New York, Ms Ann Riordan, the outgoing manager of Microsoft and Bono of U2. This project will live on after the initial relatively small allocation of resources although I am not saying it is small in terms of world-wide business. In the years ahead, the project will live on its name and will effectively be funded through commercial sponsorship.
Some years ago, we would have had a very limited research and development budget but investment of £1.95 billion has been allocated to research and development in the national plan in the context of MediaLab Europe. A sum of £560 million is being allocated to the Technology Foresight Fund following its report on establishing Ireland as a world class centre for information and communication technology and biotechnology. In addition, a sum of £220 million is being allocated to research programmes in third level institutions in a public private initiative and the Government decision approving the MediaLab Europe project also included approval for funding to Irish universities to allow them to develop good relationships with and engage in collaborative projects with MediaLab. The Higher Education Authority is the approval body for these projects.
Ultimately, the decision to invest in MediaLab Europe was taken in the knowledge that an unprecedented level of resources is being committed to third level research and development. While I do not have any knowledge of the institutions referred to by the Deputy, they are not necessarily ruled out of consideration in terms of the overall project.
What about the tendering process?
We have exceeded the time allocation for Taoiseach's Questions. I will allow the other two Deputies who tabled questions to ask a brief question.
I wish to transfer my question to Deputy Upton in whose constituency the media district is to be located.
Will the Taoiseach comment on the doubts recently cast in regard to MIT being the degree awarding body for this project? Can people still expect to obtain their degrees from MIT?
Will the Taoiseach give the House a guarantee that he will set up a task force to oversee development in relation to the Digital Hub, particularly in the light of the recent television programme on St. Theresa's Gardens which is located close to that area? Will he undertake to ensure that local people are adequately consulted and informed and that any upskilling in the area will focus particularly on their needs to ensure they will be active participants rather than observers in the project?
I will allow Deputy Mitchell to ask a very brief question.
Since I last raised this issue with the Taoiseach, a proposal has been advanced in regard to the development of Fatima Mansions which is adjacent to the MediaLab site. I discussed with the corporation the possibility of equipping houses in Fatima Mansions for IT purposes from the outset in order that they would be completely up to date. Dublin Corporation intends to bring this proposal to the project. Will the Taoiseach ask the managers of the project to meet the proposal half way and to give people who are very far behind the jump they need to put them at the top of the information technology ladder?
I will bring the issues raised by the Deputies to the attention of Digital Media Development Limited for its consideration. I assure the House that Digital Media Development Limited was established to develop the hub and ensure that the views of local people were taken into account. Deputy Owen asked me about—
The degree status.
I answered this question the last day.
Some doubt has been cast on it.
In some cases students will be here directly from MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and they will be part of their own degree course. Other students will be from other universities. As far as I understand it, if they do the whole course as part of MediaLab Europe, they will be graduates of MediaLab Europe. Obviously they will not be graduates of MediaLab Massachusetts because they are operating under MediaLab Europe. The whole idea is to bring people from these new areas.
In reply to Deputy Sargent, I do not claim to be the world expert in this area but these people are the experts and they are looking at advanced technologies that did not exist here. It is always interesting, and I am not saying this to Deputy Sargent, when somebody comes up with a good idea, that all these people think they know better but quite frankly nobody ever said these things. I accept that there are a number of them around now and perhaps they are right. I cannot contradict them but this initiative is taking place in Australia, India and Ireland. I believe they are the only three countries in which it operates.
