Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 December 2019
318. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the amount of capital expenditure in public research and development in each of the years 2005 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; the 2020 budgeted figure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53305/19]
View answerIreland has increased its investment in research and innovation (R&I) over the past decade while also introducing a range of measures to improve commercialisation of research and build strong linkages between the higher education sector and enterprise. Overall public expenditure on research and innovation, that is capital and current expenditure, has increased by 12% from €719m in 2005 to an estimated €808.1m in 2019. This is the highest amount invested by the State since 2010.
While the Irish economy has recovered and strengthened in the past number of years, levels of public investment have not yet returned to the peak of 2008. Notwithstanding this, the investment in public capital in proportion to overall public expenditure on R&I has remained broadly similar since the economic recovery.
The table below shows the Irish Government's capital expenditure on R&D for the years 2005-2018, with an estimate for 2019. Figures for 2020 are not yet available.
Table 1: Government Capital Expenditure for R&D
|
Year |
R&D Capital Expenditure (€ 000's) |
|
2005 |
€87,263 |
|
2006 |
€94,107 |
|
2007 |
€160,469 |
|
2008 |
€182,747 |
|
2009 |
€137,160 |
|
2010 |
€111,463 |
|
2011 |
€83,280 |
|
2012 |
€72,413 |
|
2013 |
€58,768 |
|
2014 |
€66,681 |
|
2015 |
€75,812 |
|
2016 |
€71,350 |
|
2017 |
€67,518 |
|
2018 |
€78,061 |
|
2019 (est.) |
€66,558 |
Source: DBEI R&D Budget 2018-2019
For more information please see the R&D Budget 2018-2019 at the following link:
https://dbei.gov.ie/en/Publications/The-R-D-Budget-2018-2019.html
