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Third Level Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 May 2018

Tuesday, 8 May 2018

Questions (219)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

219. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her views on introducing a new five-year cycle with respect to the programme for research in third level institutions; the duration to the cycle in operation; when it expires; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20097/18]

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Written answers

The Programme for Research in Third-Level Institutions (PRTLI) was launched in 1998, with five cycles of expenditure to date.  In addition to supporting the provision of top-class research infrastructure (buildings, laboratories and cutting-edge equipment), PRTLI saw significant investment in human capital development, through Structured PhD/Emergent Technology programmes across Ireland’s Higher Education Institutes (HEIs). 

 The current Cycle of PRTLI (Cycle 5) was announced in 2010 and has involved exchequer expenditure of approx. €277m with a further €59m of private investment.  Cycle 5 projects have now been completed and my Department is addressing the remaining payments associated with these awards.  The 2018 allocation to PRTLI is €14.3m with a portion of this being used to part pay outstanding bills for PRTLI Cycle 5 projects.

 Innovation 2020, the Government's strategy for research and innovation, includes an action to scope out and develop a successor to PRTLI to support new investment in research infrastructure, including buildings and equipment.  It also contains an action to increase the enrolment of PhD and research masters students. 

 The scoping of a future cycle of PRTLI has been undertaken by my Department, working with the Department of Education and Skills (DES).  It will be noted that future cycles of PRTLI are identified in the National Development Plan as an important component of the Innovation pillar.

 Pending a Government decision on the timing and scale of a future cycle of PRTLI, it is important to note that actions are already being taken by my Department, DES and other research funders to fund infrastructure and human capital in the area of research. My Department allocated an additional €5.5m in Budget 2018 to fund both PhDs and Research Masters and this additional funding has already been allocated by Science Foundation Ireland.  It is envisaged that further additional funding will be provided in 2019 and subsequent years to build on the initial steps taken in 2018.

 In this context, my Department recently launched a consultation on a proposed new Centres for Research Training (CRT) programme, to be funded through Science Foundation Ireland.  This new programme is designed to deliver world-class, postgraduate research and training programmes with a focus on employability and sectoral and international mobility. It is proposed that SFI Centres for Research Training will provide sustainable programmes of research and training for cohorts of research Masters and PhD students commencing in 2019, with new cohorts of students enrolling in subsequent years. The cohort-based programme will deliver a world-class, student-focused postgraduate experience which will contribute to the goal of positioning Ireland as a leader in postgraduate researcher training and education.

 In the area of research equipment and other infrastructure, Science Foundation Ireland has issued a 2018 Call and is currently assessing proposals using international peer review. SFI has already funded more than €50m of research infrastructure across the high education system since the start of 2016. 

 The Department of Education and Skills also announced funding in the context of Budget 2018 to address the need for physical space for research in the higher education sector.  This includes €200m for public private partnerships in the Institute of Technology sector and €257m for investment in the higher education sector generally, including for research. Significant additional investment in higher education infrastructure over the period to 2027 (in the region of €3 billion) is indicated in the NDP and this will address both education and research activities in the higher education institutions.

Pending a decision on a future cycle of PRTLI, the actions being taken by my Department and the Department of Education and Skills are addressing to a significant degree the requirements for increased investment in both physical infrastructure and human capital in higher education research as identified in Innovation 2020.

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