Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Sep 2003

Vol. 571 No. 1

Written Answers. - Research Funding.

Denis Naughten

Question:

249 Mr. Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the specific budgets available to the institute of technology sector for research and development; the percentage of the total research and development budget within her Department which is allocated to the information technology sector; her plans to improve this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19924/03]

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ms Harney)

Funding support provided for the institutes of technology sector is primarily the responsibility of the Department of Education and Science and its agencies. While the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment does not have specific budgets to support research and development activity within the institutes of technology, funding is provided through a number of programmes. Up to €24 million is being made available via Enterprise Ireland over the duration of the national development plan 2000 to 2006 to develop incubation centres at 11 institute of technology campuses throughout the country. These centres will incorporate industrial research space to facilitate the commercialisation of research and development activity undertaken by the institutes. Funding is also available from other programmes to support research and development activities at the institutes. Such funding is allocated on a competitive basis to qualifying projects.

Funding made available to the ICT sector for research and development comes from a number of agencies operating under the aegis of my Department. Funding allocations are all made on an individual, project by project basis. For example, of the total amount committed to date by Science Foundation Ireland to support research in the sciences underpinning ICT and biotechnology, €147 million has been committed in respect of ICT. Ireland's sustained economic growth and prosperity depends increasingly upon establishing a culture of scientific and technological innovation, a high level of research and development and a globally competitive knowledge based economy. Key among the areas receiving support in order to realise these objectives is support for research and development in the information and communication technologies sector and the build up of infrastructure to support the commercialisation of such research. In recognition of the importance of science, technology and innovation, my Department's science and technology budget has increased to €159 million in 2003 from expenditure of approximately €72 million in 2001.

Question No. 250 answered with Question No. 246.