Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

My colleague, Senator Quinn, suggested there should be a one-stop-shop. One of the things that I have found about funding in this country is that there is a multiplicity of funding sources and sometimes it becomes so confusing that one loses track of where one is going. Therefore, I support the call for a simple one-stop framework to access funding.

Higher education institutes will be the key drivers of economic activity but I wonder how much will be invested in the initiative. The Minister of State's statement mentioned universities and the Higher Education Authority when he referred to Horizon 2020. Is there funding for the institutes of technology and further education sectors? Traditionally, the further education sector has not been involved in research. It should be included, particularly when deriving and developing programmes for second chance learners and the like. Has a specific body been named or mentioned to attract and match private sector funding for Horizon programmes? The regional spread is something that I am sure will cause many debates at many meetings around the country. What has been done about the matter?

With respect to STEM subjects in schools, we have seen the development of Coder Dojo which is now an international and probably global driving force at national school level and beyond. Computer programming is now just another language that children learn and the Minister of State will know the benefits of same. Is there funding available for innovation in this area? If we get children young and train them then the chances are the benefits will be felt right through the economy as those generations start to grow.

Those are just some of my concerns. I congratulate the Minister of State and welcome him to the House. I wish him well with the job that he has taken on.