Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 11 Jun 1998

Vol. 492 No. 3

Written Answers. - Research Funding.

Theresa Ahearn

Ceist:

41 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of postgraduate research projects approved by Forbairt for third level colleges for each of the years from 1990 to date. [13927/98]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. Treacy)

Research Scholarships — The numbers of individual postgraduates approved for funding each year through Forbairt under the postgraduate research scholarships programme are as follows:

	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998
Research Scholarship (PhC)	171	158	184	210	166	153	159	159	–
Industrial	78	110	108	102	90	103	56	55	–

With regard to 1998, the closing date for receipt of applications from PhD scholars is 10 July 1998. It is expected that those applications which are eligible for support will be submitted to the September meeting of the National Research Support Fund Board for consideration.

In the case of industrial scholarships (MSc), the application period is from June to October. It is expected that applications will be submitted for consideration to the National Research Support Fund Board commencing in August 1998.

Research Projects

In regard to numbers of research projects, the following table illustrates numbers approved for funding each year under the basic, strategic and applied research grants schemes. It should be noted that these figures relate to projects in which research is generally carried out by postgraduates.

In relation to basic research, I am examining a number of options with a view to securing additional funding for new projects in 1998. The number of projects approved in 1998 under the strategic research grants scheme reflects the decision of the National Research Support Fund Board to support larger projects having a greater critical mass. The level of project approvals under each of the applied research programmes is expected to increase in the last quarter of the year.

It is not possible to provide details as to the number of postgraduate researchers supported through these projects. However, it is generally the case that 60 per cent of the cost of projects relates to human resources.

	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998
Basic Research Grants Scheme	15	32	34	43	60	83	105	126	–
Strategic Research Grants Scheme	10	13	17	–	28	35	37	49	33
Applied Research Grants Scheme — Universities	41	39	27	28	7	24	68	52	27
Applied Research Grants Scheme —	74	49	108	24	70	31	49	93	20
Regional Technical Colleges