Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The first thing to remember is that research prioritisation does not account for the entire SFI budget. We seek to move or evolve the research landscape in a way that will ensure that all of the State funders of research are, pretty much, on the same trajectory. One then seeks to identify new areas of opportunity where co-funding arises. For instance, a memorandum of understanding was signed between Teagasc and the SFI recently. It identified new areas of opportunity in a food related space. Even though food for health is within the priority area, there are other areas of basic research opportunities that can be mined from that type of memorandum of understanding. Similarly, the Irish Research Council funds an industry-based PhD.

One of the areas in which I am trying to drive a greater coherence in education is the area of stem science technology, engineering and maths. We have a National Centre of Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching and Learning. Perhaps we could drive new areas of funding opportunities into stem science through entities like the national centre of excellence, DCU, UCC and other areas. I do not just mean on the pedagogue side but also funding to ensure that teachers at primary and post-primary have the ability and the benefit of excellent research that would inform continual and professional development. That initiative would build up new knowledge areas that would provide for a throughput of students into tertiary education and help them to become the best engineers, technologists, mathematicians and scientists that the country has to offer.

The point that I am making is that the SFI has other areas of opportunity outside of the prioritisation exercise. We have just announced funding of €6.9 million for basic research with the potential for entrepreneurial activity to support basic scientific researchers in areas such as health. In that sector it will enable us to research whether there are economical or societal impacts. SFI core funding will be invested into that type of an endeavour.

SFI is not just concerned with prioritisation in the 14 areas. It is involved in a raft of other activities and one shall not be at the expense of the other. In other words, prioritisation is not applied at the expense of basic research and both aspects will continue together.