Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 10 Mar 1994

Vol. 440 No. 3

Written Answers. - UNESCO Report.

Proinsias De Rossa

Ceist:

44 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the findings of the recent UNESCO report, World Science Report 1993, which found that Ireland spends less on research and development, employs fewer researchers and produces fewer inventions than most developed countries; the steps, if any, he intends to take to address these shortcomings, in view of the report's findings that the most successful economies spend more on research and development; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Enterprise and Employment (Mr. Quinn)

I am aware of the reported findings of the UNESCO report referred to by the Deputy. In fact the organisation for economic co-operation and development have been producing such tables for many years.

In that context I would have to point out that recent OECD data shows that Ireland's Gross Expenditure on Research, Development (GERD) as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has risen steadily, if modestly, in the past 6 years. In 1987 our GERD/GDP ratio stood at 0.87 per cent, by 1992 it had risen to 1.1 per cent.

During the same period the GERD/GDP ratio of the EC as a whole fell from 1.96 per cent to 1.89 per cent. The ratio for North America also fell (from 2.72 per cent to 2.64 per cent) over the same period. This downward trend is probably due to factors such as a reduction in military research, general cutbacks due to recession etc.

Overall, however, I accept that, relative to other developed countries, Ireland's spend on research and development is still too low. This is, in fact, pointed out in the Government's National Development Plan where it is made clear that a further sustained effort is needed to increase the innovative capacity of Irish firms and researchers. Indeed, to the extent that as a country we are investing less in R&D, this places an even greater onus on us all to ensure that funds are deployed to maximum advantage.

As the House knows I have recently set up a Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council to carry out the most fundamental and far reaching review of science and technology ever conducted in this country. The Council has been asked to report, in the form of a draft White Paper, before the end of the year.

I would expect that, in their examination they will address,inter alia, the question of funding for R&D and the Government will take this into account in determining future national R&D priorities.