Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 December 2020
47. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the extent to which the number of graduates specialising in innovation, research and science is likely to increase annually in the future with particular reference to increased skills in their respective areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43199/20]
View answerThis is a similar question, but it concentrates on research, innovation and science. It relates to the old story that people traditionally emigrated from this country to take up positions abroad. There is now a climate in which people invest here and jobs are created as a result. To what extent will those higher qualifications in science, research and other areas be available?
While I am mainly referred to as the Minister for higher education in the Department of higher education, that is only part of it. It is the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. That is not just to have a number of words in the title. The key element here is to bring some of the functions that were in the old Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation together with the higher education sector to plan for the future. The Taoiseach and the Government feel very strongly about that. For the first time in the history of the State, more than 50% of publicly funded research is under the auspices of one Department and Minister. That makes sense. Science Foundation Ireland, SFI, will not be under the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment any longer as, from the start of next year, it will be under my Department alongside the higher education institutions, so we can work together on ensuring Ireland is a real leader when it comes to research, innovation and science.
Innovation 2020 is the current national strategy for research and development, science and technology. It acknowledges the importance of having a pipeline of skilled and talented individuals playing a critical role in innovation provision and development. The development of a country’s talent entails lifelong investment and commitment on the part of both the individual and the State. From pre-primary through to further and higher education and throughout an individual’s career, skills and knowledge must be continuously enhanced if individuals, employers and countries are to realise their potential. Innovation 2020 calls for strengthened science, technology, engineering and mathematics, STEM, teaching and learning at primary and post-primary levels - this is important as it is too late to begin these subjects at third level - and more initiatives to promote young people's and the wider population’s interest and participation in STEM.
At postgraduate level, the Irish Research Council funds graduates across all disciplines and is an important component in the wider national strategic pursuit of a strong talent pipeline of research graduates. SFI has commenced a programme to support advanced PhD skills and training, in collaboration with industry, for the new economy. There is a number of SFI centres for research training linked to the higher education institutions and there is an ambition to do more. The six we have currently are supporting over 700 PhD students in ICT and data analytics. The first 120 students commenced in September 2019.
Is the Minister satisfied that the provisions in this area, insofar as they can be determined at this stage, are sufficient to warrant confidence in people from abroad seeking to invest in jobs in this country?
I am never fully satisfied. It would be a boring day in politics to be fully satisfied. I reckon the Deputy is never fully satisfied either. There is always more to do. This country has a proud tradition when it comes to research, innovation and science. Equally, however, we cannot rest on our laurels. We must do more in this area, we must be more ambitious and we must invest more in publicly funded research. Europe is moving in a direction of far more ambitious targets. I attended a Council meeting of research ministers some weeks ago, and this country will need to have big and serious discussions about the review of the national development plan, our national economic plans and the like.
Crucially, we cannot work in silos. Science Foundation Ireland does incredible work, as does the Irish Research Council. The higher education institutions, by their nature, are engines of research, innovation and science. All of them must work together. I am not interested in having a fragmented strategy for one agency or one part of the sector. We must have a plan for science, research and innovation for Ireland for the next number of years, and we are working on that.
Finally, is the Minister satisfied that we are capable of competing with competitors in Europe in respect of innovation, science and research well into the future, and that sufficient provision is being made now to cater for that?
That is something about which I am more than satisfied, given the ingenuity of the Irish people, the level of educational attainment in this country and our track record of working with industry and data on where the future skills needs and jobs will be.
As a country that looks outward at a time when others choose to look inward, and wants to build new links and do more together, Ireland is very well placed to be a leader in this regard, but nothing is guaranteed. It is going to take a lot of work and I think that is one of the reasons the Taoiseach and the Government were motivated to establish the Department as part of the programme for Government and to have for the first time ever a Cabinet Minister and a full Department dedicated to these issues. We have a lot of work to do.
The Covid pandemic has perhaps given us a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be excited about science in the general population. I hope it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Children right across the country are talking about Luke O'Neill, vaccines and science. It has become very real very quickly. I hope many of them go on to study science and innovation in college.
