John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator Henry for raising this issue and apologise for the absence of the Minister who is in the Dáil Chamber at present. I am pleased to have the opportunity to outline the significant developments taking place in research in the technological and wider higher education sectors. Unprecedented levels of investment are now being made through our higher education system, across a range of funding programmes, in pursuit of the development of the knowledge base on which our future growth strategy is based. In this regard, the Government has committed €2.5 billion to research, technology, innovation and development under the national development plan.

The Department of Education and Science was delighted in the context of the 2004 Estimates to announce the resumption of capital funding under cycle three of the programme for research in third level institutions, PRTLI. The PRTLI has had a profound impact on the research environment in Ireland. Already, 1,400 researchers are being funded in our universities and institutes of technology and 60 research programmes are in place. A total of 33 new research centres have been approved. The Department made it clear that this was the first instalment of the Government's commitment to the full delivery and timely completion of cycle three.

When one considers that there was no dedicated programme of funding for research and development under the Department of Education and Science prior to 1998, the scale of the €605 million projects approved for funding under the PRTLI since then can be placed in a clear context. Taken with the separate programmes of support for the two relatively recently established research councils, the technological sector programme, HEAnet and the North-South research programme, the picture that emerges is one of a transformed landscape for research activity, individual researcher support and research infrastructure across the higher education sector in a short space of time. The Government-wide priority for developing the knowledge economy is reflected in other complementary, mission-oriented, research funding strands that also rely on and benefit the higher education sector. In this regard, the rapid growth of Science Foundation Ireland's activities has been particularly significant. Reflecting the strategic Government priority attaching to research in the biotechnology and information technology sectors, its funding will grow by €41 million to €113 million in 2004.

This investment has benefited the entire sector. Six institutes of technology have received PRTLI funding. The PRTLI beneficiaries include key strategic research centres and programmes such as the centre for biopolymer and biomolecular research at Athlone Institute of Technology; the smart space management project at Waterford Institute of Technology; ecotoxicology, waste reduction and air pollution at Cork Institute of Technology; the biosolids research programme at Sligo Institute of Technology; and environmental science at Carlow Institute of Technology.

The success of institutes of technology in successfully competing for PRTLI funding, either as lead institutions or collaborative partners, reflects a potentially highly valuable role for institutes of technology in the development of our national research infrastructure. We need to build on key institutional strengths across the higher education sector in a collaborative way if we are to develop the critical mass required to become significant leaders in research.

The technological sector research initiative has been a key element in building that institutional strength within the technological sector. A specific allocation of €38.09 million has been assigned to this under the National Development Plan 2000-2006 to support and strengthen the research capabilities of the institutes of technology sector by enabling institutes to focus on core strengths at both national and individual institute level. This sub-measure comprises three strands: postgraduate research and development skills programme with an allocation of €9.8 million; enterprise platform programme with an allocation of €12.4 million; and core research strengths enhancement with an allocation of €15.9 million.

In the period from 2000 to 2003, €16.25 million has been expended to support these research strands in the institute of technology sector. All of these strands are important components of enhancing the capacity of the institute of technology sector to realise its full potential as part of the national research and innovation system. Following examination of the position in the Department of Education and Science, funding of €5.8 million will be made available in 2004, including €600,000 specifically to support new projects under strand 1, for programmes under this initiative.

In investing so heavily in research activity as a clear strategic priority, the Government is making an unequivocal statement of intent regarding Ireland's place in the new knowledge age. Our higher education institutions are the pivotal players in translating that investment into tangible progress in the coming years. We are making clear strategic choices in order to lay the ground for future development and the higher education institutions are being placed centre stage in that.

I again thank the Senator for raising the matter in this House.