Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

On the previous occasion we had this set of questions, I asked the Taoiseach about Innovation Fund Ireland's €500 million designed to increase the availability of capital for research and development by small and medium companies but his answer at the time was not very clear. Is he now in a position to tell us how much of that fund has been accessed since its establishment? What is the current take up and the processing procedure regarding the fund?

One set of recommendations of the innovation task force is to ensure our education system promotes innovation and creativity. Is the Taoiseach aware that it calls for the raising of levels of competence and attainment in maths and the sciences? How can the Taoiseach reconcile such an objective with imposing savage cuts throughout the entire education budget? The budget for 2010 saw an overall reduction of 4% in the provision for institutes of technology and universities. Students must deal with diminished practical and tutorial supports and limited access to libraries and laboratories. Last winter, the Dublin Institute of Technology had to cancel a raft of opportunities in laboratories and library services were cut. How much more of this can we expect? How does it sit comfortably with the stated objectives of Innovation Fund Ireland's recommendations?

How does the related area of people preparing for third level education in line with the attainment of higher standards of accomplishment in maths and science rest against the further cut in teachers' pay, the reduction in teacher numbers and the increase in class sizes and the pupil-teacher ratio in terms of the passage through second level education in preparation for third level access? It defies understanding. Whatever good there may be in increased bonus points for CAO awards in the area of maths and the sciences, I feel it is cancelled out by all of the other measures introduced in the budget for 2010 throughout the education sector. There is a reduced number of teachers and class sizes have increased. It is totally contradictory and does not stand up to any serious scrutiny whatsoever.

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