Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am in Leinster House. I welcome Dr. Ryan, Professor Cunnane and the team. We only recently heard from them so it was good to get an update.

I will comment on the opening statements. I welcome that Dr. Ryan mentioned digital skills and increasing expertise in this area. It is important in regional areas, especially for the digital skills divide. Dr. Ryan referred to three elements, specifically sustainability, solidarity and support. The first point relates to sustainability and reconfiguring the funding arrangements. I have engaged to get further information on this in terms of the Cassells report. From what I am aware, the Department officials and the Minister, Deputy Harris, are meeting the European Commission this week and engaging with several stakeholders. They anticipate a final report from the European Commission will issue by the end of quarter 1. The Commission will then present the outcomes to the Minister in quarter 2. These are timelines in respect of the Cassells report.

There is another aspect to sustainability. I was delighted when I saw the reference to Science Foundation Ireland funding for research centres. This relates to 17 higher education institutions and in particular is linked in with institutes of technology. We could see that GMIT is linked in and was getting funding. Limerick Institute of Technology was there with the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Software, known as Lero. It was excellent to see that the funding coming from SFI is also coming through to the institutes of technology. I note Athlone Institute of Technology also benefited from research funding. It is important that our institutes of technology are able to step up.

I take on board the points made about research capacity. Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe funding are complex. The programmes are seen as the crème de la crèmeand the height of excellence of science throughout Europe. This is about research capacity. In other words, for every member of the research staff, a total of 30% of time is dedicated to research. The idea is that we have strong research offices that are supporting researchers and lecturers to apply for funding.

What is the plan of the Technological Higher Education Association? How is THEA linking in with Enterprise Ireland? Another aspect of this is competitive industry. Some of the funding that comes through Europe is for the partnerships that each of the institutes and technological universities have in place. The institutes are already in a strong position as they have good relationships with industry and companies in their areas.

The last point relates to the societal impact of Horizon Europe funding. Reference was made to solidarity and how the institutes are integrated into the communities. We are already at the Pobal deprivation index for some of these areas. It is important to see that rolled out and I am highly supportive of that in the west.