Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 28 Apr 1994

Vol. 442 No. 2

Written Answers. - Dublin Science Park Proposal.

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

103 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the progress that has been made into the establishment of a science park in Dublin; the locations that are being considered; the potential job opportunities that may arise; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Enterprise and Employment (Mr. Quinn)

A feasibility study into the possibility of establishing a Dublin Science Park has been presented to me by the Dublin Chamber of Commerce.

The report is at present being considered by my Department in conjunction with the industrial development agencies and other institutions involved.

According to the report, the cost of developing such a park would be a minimum of £20 million. The report does not envisage any participation by the private sector in establishing such a project but recommends that it be entirely funded by the national Exchequer and EU Structural Funds. The proposal would, therefore, have to be examined against the background of the limited resources available to the Exchequer and, in particular, the amount of co-financing which will be available for R&D/industrial development under the European Regional Development Fund in the period 1994-99.

The whole issue of science parks and our national policy in respect of such developments is one of the issues which will be examined by the Science Technology and Innovation Advisory Council which has been set up by the Minister with responsibility for commerce and technology and which has been asked to report by the end of the year.