Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Trade unionists, employers and business representative associations state our economic recovery, prosperity and well-being will be put at risk if we do not adequately resource third level funding. Since 2016, there has been a 52% cut in research funding. We need to call the Government to account on this. A fall from €30.4 million to €14 million is a drastic cut. This is against the backdrop of a high point several years ago when almost €58 million was made available to research programmes.

Can the Minister of State give more research funding to third level institutions? All third level institutions tell us we must invest more in research. If we are not at the cutting edge or forefront of research, we will lose our competitiveness.

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