Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 November 2004
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Institutes of Technology.
483 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science her proposals to assist Waterford Institute of Technology in rapidly developing its research and development capacity to assist the manufacturing sector in the south-east region in meeting the growing challenges in the global market, thereby contributing the protection of existing jobs and the creation of new jobs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30248/04]
View answerThe Government has committed €698 million to the education sector for research, technology, innovation and development under the National Development Plan 2000-2006.
Some €38 million of this has been specifically allocated to institutes of technology under the technological sector research sub-measure. The objective of providing this specific funding for institutes of technology is to support and strengthen the research capability of the sector by enabling institutes to focus on research projects based on core strengths, either of individual institutes or of the sector as a whole. Funding for research is allocated on the basis of a competitive process with independent adjudication by national and international experts.
Waterford Institute of Technology has received funding amounting to some €2.36 million under the technological sector research sub-measure in the period 2000 to 2004. I also understand that the institute, in collaboration with other third level institutions, has been allocated almost €5 million under the programme for research in third level institutions, PRTLI as the lead institution in a particular research project.
