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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 1 Jul 1993

Vol. 433 No. 3

Written Answers. - Research Scholarships.

Jim Higgins

Ceist:

38 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the reason that support for research students in the form of applied research scholarships has been cancelled; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

My Department's Science and Technology budget for 1993 is £43.88 million as compared to an outturn of £27.84 million last year. The 1993 provision includes £23.42 million for a new scheme to assist companies to undertake R and D projects. Because there is no requirement for matching Exchequer funds, this amount does not appear in the Estimates. To enable this scheme to get underway in 1993 it was necessary to redeploy funds as between different S & T programmes.

This has resulted in cut-backs in certain other schemes including the Applied Scholars scheme. Within present budgetary constraints, my Department is looking at ways to maximise the use of funds available for the Applied Scholars scheme. Research students who apply for these scholarships are being referred to the Irish-American Partnership element of the scheme which is jointly funded by Eolas and industry.

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