Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 6: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his intended approach to advanced research in higher education institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5539/11]

Deputies:

A National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030, otherwise known as the Hunt report, was published in January which set out a vision for the future development and direction of higher education in Ireland over the next two decades. I support the broad analysis of the strategy in recognising the central role higher education plays in economic development and the need for continuing State investment in research activities. As Minister of State with responsibility for research and innovation I will be working closely with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, the Minister for Education and Skills and other colleagues in co-ordinating delivery on the Government's strategic research priorities and in seeking to enhance and support the further development of our research system.

Deputies:

There has been significant investment in research in Ireland over the past decade and we must continue to build on this investment. We need to invest across the full range of disciplines, including the humanities and social sciences, to maintain a broad base of knowledge and capacity, coupled with targeted investment in specific strategic areas of national opportunity. We must continue to encourage our institutions to work together and build critical mass around areas of key strength, and also support better and deeper working relationships with industry.

Deputies:

While our institutions have developed a strong base of research activity, the focus of the next stage in our system's development must be on our ability to maximise the impact of our research results in terms of the commercialisation of that research and its conversion to real sustainable jobs. In this regard, our programme for Government pledges to introduce a number of measures to support innovation and technology development in our institutions, including the establishment of a network of technology research centres which will focus on applied technological research in specific areas.

Deputies:

It is also important to recognise the role research investment plays more generally across higher education. The knowledge created through research and the skills associated with research activities have a direct bearing on the quality of teaching and learning in our institutions and on the formation of our students, both at postgraduate and undergraduate level. All students should have some exposure to the latest research developments, and the connection between the teaching and research missions of institutions must remain.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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I congratulate the new Minister, Deputy Quinn, and the Ministers of State, Deputy Cannon and Deputy Sherlock, on their appointment and wish them well. They will be looking after an important Department and sector over the forthcoming term. Given their capacity and experience, I have no doubt that they are well equipped to deal with it.

Many of the good aspects of our economy at present are the result of investment in education. At 14%, our level of unemployment is at its highest for a long time, but there is also a very high number of people at work compared with ten years ago. The number of people who are working is a positive feature although we must try to ensure we start creating jobs again. Many of the people who are at work in the economy at present are in jobs which were created as a result of investment in third level education------

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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The Deputy should ask a question.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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-----particularly over recent years. I welcome the fact that the Minister will continue some of the work and investment that has been put into this sector. Will he elaborate on the measures he will take to ensure that the research investment is, in so far as possible, tied in with the companies that will be investing in particular areas to ensure that it generates employment in towns, cities and regions?

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Not only is research covered under the education and skills remit but there is also an important function under the enterprise, jobs and innovation remit. Within that substrata there is a specific remit vis-À-vis Science Foundation Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and the programme for research in third level institutions, PRTLI. Science Foundation Ireland, SFI, alone has a budget of €160 million for 2011. There is a clear priority. If we are to get people back to work, we must ensure that we maintain the current level of spending within that area in so far as possible so that investment can be maintained. It will thus be possible through SFI, Enterprise Ireland and the research programme to build the synergies with the companies. That is already happening; the model is well established. However, I strongly believe that the Government's job must be to try to grow and deepen that remit and commercialise the research. If we can commercialise the research and continue that model, it will be possible to create more jobs from the third level sector.