Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 September 2017
134. Deputy James Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of doctoral students and post-doctoral researchers funded by the agencies under her aegis in each of the past ten years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39202/17]
View answerInnovation 2020, Ireland’s 5-year strategy for research and development, science and technology sets out the roadmap for continuing progress towards the goal of making Ireland a Global Innovation Leader, driving a strong sustainable economy and a better society. One of the strategy’s objectives is to ensure that education supports and helps to drive innovation. This strategy has its goals to increase annual research masters and PhD enrolments and to support the full continuum of talent development from primary level through to Postdoctoral research. This is building on the valuable work commenced and undertaken by agencies under my Department’s remit prior to the launch of the strategy.
Science Foundation Ireland:
Science Foundation Ireland funding ensures that Ireland is producing the highly skilled talent and skills that are critical to the economy’s development and Ireland’s continued performance in global rankings in scientific research excellence. There are currently a total of 4,239 people working on Science Foundation Ireland supported research projects. Of these, 1,441 are postgraduate students. 27% of PhD departures from Science Foundation Ireland funded teams went to industry as a first destination in 2016 and 32% of postdocs went to industry as first destination in the same period.
The table presents the number of PhD students and post-doctoral researchers attributed to active Science Foundation Ireland awards.
Science Foundation Ireland Doctoral and Post-Doctoral numbers
|
PhDs |
Post-Doctoral Researchers |
|
|
2008 |
1153 |
686 |
|
2009 |
1344 |
846 |
|
2010 |
1251 |
781 |
|
2011 |
1284 |
728 |
|
2012 |
1165 |
708 |
|
2013 |
955 |
584 |
|
2014 |
971 |
628 |
|
2015 |
1159 |
830 |
|
2016 |
1316 |
982 |
PRTLI:
The Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions (PRTLI) was launched in 1998. The programme provides funding for third-level research infrastructure, national shared facilities, and structured PhD programmes. The PRTLI transferred to my Department in 2010 from the Department of Education and Skills. The Higher Education Authority continues to administer the programme on behalf of my Department.
There have been 5 Cycles of the PRTLI to date with investment totalling €1.2 billion of combined Exchequer and private investment. PRTLI Cycle 5 was launched in July 2010 with total awards of €359m announced across 36 distinct projects involving capital infrastructure and structured PhD/Emergent Technologies programmes.
The planning and design of a successor to Cycle 5 of PRTLI is an action in Innovation 2020 and is being progressed by my Department working closely with the Department of Education and Skills. My Department has included a proposal to commence funding for a successor to Cycle 5 of the PRTLI in its submission to the Mid-term Review of the Capital Plan. There will be more clarity on a successor to Cycle 5 when this review is concluded, and the funding envelope for this and other projects is finalised.
PRTLI Doctoral and Post-Doctoral numbers funded 2007 - 2017
|
PhDs |
Post-Doctoral Researchers |
|
|
Cycle 4 |
277 |
138 |
|
Cycle 5 |
336 |
72 |
The number of PhDs and post-doctoral researchers has steadily increased in recent years and it is my firm intention to ensure that this trend is given increased momentum and importance in the years ahead through the implementation of specific actions in Innovation 2020 and funding for specific SFI programmes aimed at increasing the numbers of PhD students and post-doctoral researchers.
