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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 29 May 2001

Vol. 537 No. 2

Written Answers. - Research Grant Scheme.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

107 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her views on the independent research which has shown that the basic research grant operated by Enterprise Ireland has proved to be excellent value for money; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that in 2001 only 15% of applications got through, down on last year and only half the success rate of proposals in other EU countries; and if she will increase the budget under this scheme so that more of the quality applications can receive funding. [15598/01]

The basic research grant scheme, which is directed at supporting high-quality basic research projects, in the third level sector, with a particular emphasis on the training of new graduates, is an essential element of this Government's research, technological development and innovation strategy. This scheme has been expanded considerably in recent years, from a base of £0.83 million in 1994. This expansion is in line with the recommendations contained in the independent review of the scheme carried out by Technopolis in 1997. The amount of £6.32 million for new projects which has been approved for the basic research grant scheme this year, represents a substantial increase of 35% on the £4.68 million funding approved last year.

Notwithstanding this increase in commitments, it is true that the success rate for projects under this scheme is just under 15% this year, compared to 19% in 2000. This arises however from the substantial increase in funding granted to individual projects, with an average cost of £91,000 per project, compared to £55,000 last year, and an increase in the number of projects submitted for consideration. The benefit of this increase in funding for individual projects is that principal investigators will be in a position to take on both a post-graduate student and a post-doctoral researcher. As a consequence, more individual researchers will be supported under the scheme this year, compared to 2000. The increased funding per project also has consequential beneficial effects, in that it provides for an increase in the level of payments to researchers. This will make it easier to attract research students and post-doctoral fellows of the highest calibre and ensure that they remain with projects, for their duration.

The overall objective of this scheme is to train researchers and develop a good research base, here in Ireland. We are confident that the funding provided for basic research under the scheme and under the many other measures, provided for in the National Development Plan 2000-2006, will ensure that this objective is met.

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