Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 November 2011
146 Deputy Willie O’Dea asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the numbers of researchers to be supported under the Science Foundation Ireland funding in each of the years 2012 to 2016 under the announced capital funding; the comparable figures for the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35038/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraScience Foundation Ireland (SFI) typically makes research grants awards that are multi-annual in nature, typically spanning a three to five year period.
The following table sets out the researcher numbers directly supported by SFI since 2006.
|
Year |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
|
No. of Researchers |
1,362 |
1,909 |
2,812 |
3,225 |
2,999 |
c.3,000 |
Due to the wide range of variables that impact upon the overall numbers of researchers being directly supported by SFI in-year it is not possible to provide exact projections of the numbers of researchers that will be supported under SFI funding. The following estimated projections represent the most likely scenarios based on current information available.
|
Year |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
Estimated number of SFI supported Researchers |
3,000 |
2,900 |
2,750 |
2,750 |
2,750 |
It is to be expected that some of the researcher number reductions may be offset by other sources, such as EU funding which has been an increasing source of funds for the Irish research system in recent years.
