Vol. 568 No. 1
201 Mr. Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the specific budgets available to the information technology sector for research and development; the percentage of the total research and development budget within her Department which is allocated to the information technology sector; the plans she has to improve this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15473/03]
Our sustained economic growth and prosperity will depend upon establishing a culture of scientific and technological innovation, a high level of research and development and a globally competitive knowledge based economy. Key among the areas receiving support in order to realise these objectives is the information and communication technologies sector.
Funding made available to the ICT sector for research and development comes from a number of agencies operating under the aegis of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Funding allocations are all made on an individual, project by project basis. Science Foundation Ireland has a budget in 2003 of €70 million to support research in the sciences underpinning ICT and biotechnology.
