Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

In March 2012, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation transferred responsibility for delivery of the discover science and engineering, DSE, programme from Forfás to Science Foundation Ireland, SFI, on an administrative basis. Since its establishment in 2003, the programme has been actively working with companies and higher education institutions as well as representative bodies, such as Engineers Ireland, to heighten awareness of science and engineering and to raise the level of student uptake of the physical sciences at second and third level. The programme also runs a range of science, technology, engineering and maths, STEM, initiatives at primary level.

The objective of the DSE programme is to promote awareness and understanding of the importance of STEM, to increase the number of students studying the physical sciences and mathematics, to promote a positive attitude to careers in STEM and to foster a greater public understanding of the physical sciences, engineering and mathematics and their value to Irish society.

There are many synergies and mutual complementarities between the programme and SFI, particularly in light of the outreach programmes run through SFI-funded research centres. The transfer underpinned by this Bill will enable synergies between the programme and SFI funding to be maximised, will increase the programme's impact and will further enhance SFI's science outreach activities.

Including paragraph (iii) of amendment No. 12 would be superfluous, as specifying in legislation the recipients of funding through SFI's awareness programmes is unnecessary. If only certain potential recipients of funding were identified, it would raise questions as to the eligibility of other bodies.

We can accept paragraph (iv) of the amendment in principle. I agree that it would be appropriate for SFI to consult, as appropriate, the Department of Education and Skills where SFI's activities in an area are relevant to that Department. However, I propose to insert the amendment in subparagraph (i), as set out in amendment No. 11.

Paragraph (v) appears to dilute the Bill's objective of enabling SFI to support STEM awareness. It also may go beyond the scope of SFI's function.