Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 62: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the action she is taking to promote more science and technology interest among students and businesses here in view of the recent cut in budgets for such activities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19923/09]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Science, technology and innovation are critical to the future competitiveness of our enterprise sector and Ireland must produce the talented students and graduates to drive a knowledge-based economy. The Government's Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation, SSTI, 2006-2013, aims to ensure that "Ireland by 2013 will be internationally renowned for the excellence of its research, and will be to the forefront in generating and using new knowledge for economic and social progress, within an innovation driven culture". The Government is committed to making this vision a reality and making Ireland a key location for leading edge research and development, and a location for high quality jobs that are underpinned by knowledge and high skill levels.

The targets within the strategy for science, technology and innovation, which relate to the increased promotion of interest in science and technology among students and businesses, include increased participation in the sciences by young people; a significant increase in the numbers of people with advanced qualifications in science and engineering; and transformational change in the quality and quantity of research undertaken by enterprise both directly and in co-operation with third level institutions.

The first report on the implementation of the strategy for science, technology and innovation was published in December last and is available at www.entemp.ie. The report confirms that substantial progress has been made in achieving these objectives. Both reports provide evidence that the Government's integrated strategy is working, as seen in the following internationally comparable key indicators. Total research and development spending has almost trebled over ten years and Ireland's total expenditure on research and development had risen to 1.56% of GNP at the end of 2006. Total research and development spending across all sectors of the economy is expected to climb to €2.6 billion or 1.66% of gross national product in 2008. Business expenditure on research and development, BERD, increased to an estimated €1.68 billion or 1.08% of GNP in 2008. Higher education research and development spending has almost quadrupled in current terms over ten years and is now at the European Union and OECD average levels. This increased investment in the higher education sector is having a significant impact in terms of human capital development, feeding through to attraction of foreign direct investment and commercialisation. The number of research personnel employed in research and development activities across the business sector in Ireland rose to 13,861 in head count terms in 2007.

Early estimates of research and development activity levels point to sharp increases in the number of firms performing significant research and development - expenditure of more than €2 million - with 164 significant research and development performers in 2007 compared to 118 in 2005. There also appears to be evidence of firms which were smaller performers of research and development in 2005 stepping up activity to become larger performers in 2007.

Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I recently asked the Tánaiste a question about the discover science and engineering programme, for which funding has been halved from €5.25 million in 2008 to €2.68 million this year. In her reply, she recognised that the programme provides very good value for money and plays an important role in encouraging young people to study science and technology. Given its importance for future economic development, why has funding for the programme been cut?

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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In the past ten years, expenditure on research and development has tripled.

Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The programme is for second level students as opposed to research and development in third and fourth level.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Please allow the Minister of State to continue without interruption.

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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No area of public expenditure, least of all science, research and development, has been spared in the current round of cuts. The budget cut in research and development expenditure is in the order of 15%.

Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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That does not square with the Government's ambitions.

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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More worrying is the 26% cut in the national development plan allocation to science research and development. This is an inevitable part of the adjustment the country, economy and society are making. As the Minister of State with responsibility for science, technology and innovation, I hope we will emerge from our current problems sooner rather than later. However, the expenditure reduction in this area is inevitable given the extent to which public spending must be pared back in the current climate.