Dáil debates

Thursday, 31 January 2019

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions

Research and Development Supports

10:50 am

Photo of John HalliganJohn Halligan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Government strategy for research and innovation includes an action to scope out and develop a successor to the PRTLI, which was successful, and to support new investment in research infrastructure including buildings and equipment. The scoping of a future cycle of the PRTLI has been undertaken by my Department, working with the Department of Education and Skills. Through SFI, my Department has allocated more than €74 million for research equipment right across the higher education system since the start of 2016, which represents significant additional investment. This figure includes €24.8 million in 2018.

Through SFI, Department has also commenced the roll-out of a new €100 million programme of investment in PhDs and research masters through new centres for research training. We are investigating the roll-out of a new tranche of PRTLI funding currently but the Department will not be found wanting in respect of investment in the research and development infrastructure of our universities and institutes of technology. We are making that investment. Since 2012, there has been a dramatic increase in the amount we have put into research equipment, universities and institutes of technology, including increases in 2016 and 2017. We will continue to put that money in.

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