John Halligan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I know we are running over time but there is also a decision by the Government to increase masters and PhD enrolments by 500 per annum, delivering a 30% increase. That is part of the programme for Government, as is increasing the number of research personnel in enterprises from 25,000 to 40,000. Also, there is an intention to build further co-operation to maintain and enhance our scientific excellence, to deliver a target of €1.25 billion from Horizon 2020. We are doing very well in extracting money from Horizon 2020. There is recognition that there is much more to be done but if one looks at how we are investing across the Departments and how, if one goes to the universities, institutes of technologies and companies, there is that threefold group that is a proper barometer as to how we are investing in research and development. It is not everything we can do. We are a bit off and it would be folly for any of us here to say that everything is perfect and right. The Minister of State, Deputy Breen, the Minister and I meet regularly and we recognise, like members, that with the advancement of technology and how it will advance over the next ten, 15 or 20 years, and if we go back and look how it was in 20 or 30 years, we must invest in innovation and in research and development. The plan is to do that.