Gerard Murphy
Question:79 Mr. Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Science the areas of the economy for which the Government has scientific programmes in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14792/02]
Written Answers. - Science Education.
Pat Breen
Question:80 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Education and Science the extent to which his Department has regard to provision made in other European jurisdictions in respect of development of sciences with the need to ensure maximum advantage from an Irish perspective. [14800/02]
John Perry
Question:81 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Education and Science if his Department is seeking to develop a leadership role in specific scientific technologies which will lead to competitive advantage in industry. [14796/02]
Olivia Mitchell
Question:82 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science the degree to which his Department has overall control in respect of the promotion of scientific development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14791/02]
Fergus O'Dowd
Question:83 Mr. O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Science the degree to which the sciences receive priority in respect of funding; his plans for the future in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14795/02]
Denis Naughten
Question:100 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science the funding available from the Government to expand scientific development; the way in which it is allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14793/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 to 83, inclusive, and 100 together.
A number of initiatives have been implemented by my Department in recent years in order to bolster the scientific and technological skills profile of students at all levels of the education system, both in terms of general scientific education and of more specific areas of key skills needs. The provision of such skills is essential to the sustained growth of the economy and to the development of a knowledge base to secure the country's involvement in global scientific endeavour.
Revised leaving certificate syllabi in physics and chemistry were introduced in September 2000. A revised syllabus in leaving certificate biology will be introduced in schools in Sep tember next. At junior certificate level, the NCCA has recently circulated a draft of a new science syllabus among the education partners for discussion. A number of steps have also been taken to develop laboratory resources in second level schools. These include: schools have been provided with capital grants to a total of more than €13,000 for the purchase of laboratory equipment, including ICT equipment; and a special annualper capita grant is being paid to schools in respect of each pupil taking a physical science subject at leaving certificate level.
Schools that currently have a capital project in architectural planning will have their science laboratories upgraded as an integral element of the capital project.
In October 2000 the task force on the physical sciences was established by my predecessor, Deputy Michael Woods. Its remit was to develop a set of measures to address concerns about the decline in participation in the study of the physical sciences at both second and third level in Ireland. Earlier this year the task force presented its report to my Department. It contains a comprehensive set of recommendations designed to address the declining interest in the study of the physical sciences at second and third level. The report has now been made available for consultation with a deadline of 1 September for comments and observations on its findings and recommendations. At the end of the consultation period an action and implementation strategy will be developed and put in place.
In late 1997 the Government established the expert group on future skills needs to,inter alia, identify sectoral skills needs and to anticipate the future skills needs of the economy. The expert group has produced a number of reports to date dealing with skills issues in areas of key strategic importance such as information technology, the chemical and biological sciences, research and the construction industry. Following on the recommendations of these reports, additional third level places are being provided in the information technology and the chemical and biological sciences areas. The provision of these extra places will ensure that Ireland has the skills in key areas that are necessary to maintain our competitive advantage.
A further vital element in the development of scientific and technological education is the role of research in our higher education institutions. It is now well recognised that research and development has a vital role to play, not only as an element of academic scholarship, but also as a key strategic tool in positioning Ireland as a knowledge based economy. Under the NDP almost €2.54 billion has been allocated for research, technological development and innovation. Of this, €698 million is being provided to strengthen the capacity and capability of research in the higher education sector. The four complementary sub-measures will engender a strategic view of research in higher education, ensure that the infrastructural supports for research are in place and provide the necessary supports for researchers at both the project and individual level.
The programme for research in third level institutions is the main element of the RTDI and education measure provided for in the NDP. The programme's objective is to strengthen the long-term capacity of third level institutions for high quality research. The defining characteristic of PRTLI is support for institutions with strategically focused and managed research programmes. The emphasis of the PRTLI is on assisting the third level institutions – both individually and collectively – to enhance and develop their research capabilities. Proposals must satisfy demanding criteria in regard to research quality, support for learning and teaching at the institution and the contribution to realising the goals and objectives of the institution's long-term research strategy. To date awards amounting to €605 million have been announced for third level institutions, following competitive processes involving the application of international standards.
The NDP provision includes an allocation of €38.092 million specifically for research in the technological sector. This funding is intended to support and strengthen the research capabilities of the sector by enabling Institutes to focus on core strengths at both national and institute level by enhancing the skills profile and experiences of researchers and by fostering a climate of excellence. The initiative comprises three strands: postgraduate research and development skills – training in research and development skills for graduates leading to a Masters degree aimed at increasing the supply of highly skilled graduates to enable industry to become and remain competitive; enterprise platform programme – training programmes for graduate entrepreneurs involving education-enterprise training and advice-mentoring from business and industry; and core research strengths enhancement – support to develop research capacity in institutes of technology.
All funding of projects under the technological sector research initiative is based on a competitive process involving adjudication panels of national and international experts. Selection is based on academic excellence having regard to a range of criteria including the quality, relevance and technical merit of the projects. To date some €16.3 million has been allocated for the three strands of the initiative.
The Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology was established in June 2001. It aims to promote excellence across a broad range of research in science, engineering and technology. The council is establishing schemes of support for researchers in science, engineering and technology including new and improved grant schemes for postgraduate scholars and post-doctoral fellows as well as providing funding for research projects. The council, together with Enterprise Ireland, recently completed the allocation of €16 million in respect of 119 projects under their joint basic research grant scheme.
In relation to developments in other European jurisdictions, the task force on the physical sciences undertook a significant amount of international comparative work in formulating its set of recommendations.
Question No. 84 answered with Question No. 59.