Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Nov 2003

Vol. 575 No. 3

Written Answers. - Research Funding.

Cecilia Keaveney

Question:

130 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the factors that would contribute to County Donegal drawing down only ?18,606 in payments under the RTDI collaboration, third level colleges; the efforts which can be made to expand such programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28271/03]

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

Key factors in the levels of RTDI expenditure in a county are, first, the presence and scale of third level institutions located there and, second, the levels of research activity in those institutions and in the firms in the county. The presence of the institute of technology in Letterkenny is relevant in this regard.

A number of initiatives have been taken to increase the research orientation and capacity of educational facilities. Enterprise Ireland has in place a scheme which supports applied research undertaken by colleges on behalf of companies. This has been extensively promoted within the institutes and has been responsible for a large number of projects being funded over the years.

More recently, Enterprise Ireland has joined the institutes in supporting TECNET which is charged with the responsibility for developing links with industry and improving its research base. Further initiatives are under active consideration to boost research levels further in the contexts both of efforts to increase the levels of research in Donegal and the Border, midlands and western region generally and in Irish firms more generally in relation to the EU target level of 3% of GDP on research by 2010.