Terry Brennan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Seanad inniu. I welcome the Minister of State. Without any preamble, an impartial observer would regard Ireland's participation in the Horizon 2020 programme as very successful so far. Ireland's target, under the Action Plan for Jobs 2014, was to attain €100 million of Horizon 2020 funding in its first year but it was exceeded by a total of €27 million. A sum of €127 million in total is a very significant amount of research funding. We should not rest on our laurels, as the Minister of State has stated, and must redouble our efforts to extract further funding over the coming years.

It is interesting to learn that 85% of funding won in 2014 came from the ICT area, research grants from the European Research Council, and training grants for researchers, advanced materials, advanced manufacturing and processing, biotechnology and agrifood. Irish business received more than €35 million of the total amount won in 2014 and, impressively, almost three quarters of this funding went to SMEs. The figures are very impressive. However, outside of the financial aspect, the connection that these projects promote enable Irish researchers and companies to link, as the Minister of State has stated, with other high achieving comparative industries throughout the EU and the world. This situation can only lead to our expertise influencing others and, in turn, other experts influencing our people, all of which is very welcome.

The success of the programme here and elsewhere has been largely attributed to the absence of red tape that crucified us for many decades. The industry's view, largely, is that the scheme is much more user-friendly than its predecessors and thus is much easier to apply.In regard to the SME instrument under Horizon 2020, Ireland is at the top of the league table for attracting funding. That is a major achievement and I urge the Minister of State not to underestimate the ranking.

Earlier this year it was announced that three more Irish companies, including one based in the west, in Galway, has been selected in the latest round of phase 1 funding. Aperilink Limited in Dublin, DiaNia Technologies Limited in Galway and IRIS Advanced Engineering Limited in Kerry will all receive €50,000 each for innovation. The money will be used to finance feasibility studies and business coaching is also available. Impressively, the Insight Centre for Data Analytics was responsible for nearly 10% of the total amount awarded to Irish industry. In terms of the overall amount drawn down in Ireland, has the Minister of State some indicative figures on how many jobs were created or secured as a result of this funding? I realise that sometimes job creation is not an exact science but an indication would be helpful. I have carried out research and believe 30 Irish SMEs have received funding so far of which 25 received phase 1 funding of up to €50,000 each and two received phase 2 funding of up to €2.1 million each. These figures date from July. Has further progress been made since July?

On a separate note, Professor Mark Ferguson, the director general of the Science Foundation Ireland, wanted the new SFI-funded research centres to play a large part in Horizon 2020. He indicated that SFI wanted to be running the game for other people, or running very major applications. He stated that the research centres SFI has funded are at a scale where they should be able to co-ordinate some of these European projects. Can the Minister of State update us on how SFI has been successful in co-ordinating applications to date?

Potential problems with eligibility were flagged prior to the launch of the programme. The problems were due to the nature of contracts for early stage researchers in higher education. The point was made that younger researchers are in many cases barred from submitting grants under their own names because of contractual issues. We need to come up with a contractual model that will enable young researchers to build their own research careers and at least offers them long-term contracts. I know that was a concern of a DCU academic at the time. Has the Minister of State any information on the matter? Perhaps he will examine it.

I again voice my total support for the programme, which has been very successful to date. I commend the Minister of State and his officials on the supports that have been put in place and on the excellent programme that has been rolled out. Undoubtedly, Ireland is punching above its weight which is wonderful to see and long may it continue. Ireland has taken the lead. The Minister of State took on this programme with great gusto and vision and it seems to be the right portfolio for him. I congratulate him and his officials on their success of which they can be very proud. Well done.