Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail)
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We will now move on to the third Commencement matter in the name of Senator Maria Byrne. The Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, is staying with us. Senator Byrne has the floor for the next four minutes.

Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for coming in to discuss this all-important issue. I would like to start by congratulating him on his recent appointment and wish him the very best of luck. The Science Foundation Ireland research centre based at the University of Limerick has been responsible for scientific technological breakthroughs over many years. It has supported pharma since 2008 and pharma is one of the biggest industries in Ireland, with 67% of our exports coming from the pharma industry.

SSPC is all about knowledge and talent and there are a number of graduates of the University of Limerick there. It also works with other universities, like Trinity College, UCC, University of Galway and RCSI, in the context of research and knowledge, which is really important. This industry is heavily reliant on PhD students and it is really important that these centres are funded. They have been responsible for life-changing experiences for people in terms of life-changing medicine. They have supplied people to work with the likes of Lilly, Edwards Lifesciences, Boston Scientific, BD and Cereset. These are a sample of the companies to which its has provided employees, especially its research students. Currently, there are 150 PhD students going through the system and they will all be going to work in industry locally.

In terms of the Lero software centre, which has been there since 2005, there are 3,700 companies in Ireland in the software industry and this is worth €64.6 billion in value. That is huge money. There are 170 PhD students in the Lero software centre at present and there will be 300 more in the next intake. It supplies graduates to places like Analog, Johnson and Johnson, Jaguar, Land Rover and Dairymaster. That is a sample of some of the companies that are heavily reliant on the graduates coming from both Lero and SSPC, which are both based at the University in Limerick. My question is on the future funding being guaranteed for these centres.

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Senator Byrne for raising this important matter. I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy O'Donovan, a county colleague of Senator Byrne.

The establishment of Science Foundation Ireland's, SFI's, research centres programme in 2012 has had a transformative economic and societal impact on Ireland and its research ecosystem. The centres programme has delivered world-leading research and innovation as well as advanced knowledge. It has created and retained employment and supported regional development and developed a pipeline of talented researchers with critical skills. The development of the centre network was set out in a national development plan in alliance with the Government's Impact 2030 research and innovation strategy.

The SFI research centre network represents over €745 million of State investment and includes two Limerick-based centres, Lero, the SFI research centre for software, and the SSPC, SFI research centre for pharmaceuticals. Both centres support the delivery excellent research talent and a significant economic societal impact locally and nationally.

In 2023, SFI developed a new research centres programme, following extensive consultation calling for applications for future centres. This programme is open to existing SFI research centres and provides access to funding, which would run from 2026 to 2033. The pre-proposal applications have been reviewed and as with all SFI programmes, a rigorous international peer review process was adhered to. I am informed by the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, that it is not possible at this stage to make public the details of who has applied to any programme or the outcome.

Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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I know there is a process ongoing at the moment which cannot be made public but the point I want to highlight is the significance of these two centres to the region regarding the supply of PhD students who are necessary in terms of operation of these centres. The amount of investment these students are helping to generate through the talent and knowledge they are giving to industry in the region is the point that needs to be taken back. Hopefully, we will see funding for both Lero and SSPC.

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I appreciate the wider point the Senator is making in relation to the region and the importance of the two centres she referenced in the context of Limerick. I will reflect that to my colleague, the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan. I reiterate that the process is under way and that there is a need for an international peer review. It is not possible to detail the applicants or the outcome at this point, but I will reflect the points the Senator raised in the debate. I appreciate her raising the issue.

Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State and the Senator.