Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 252: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the steps she intends to take to improve the research and development capabilities of the institutes of technology; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18729/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Under the technological sector research sub-measure, €38 million has been specifically allocated to institutes of technology. The objective of providing this specific funding for institutes of technology is to support and strengthen the research capability of the sector by enabling institutes to focus on research projects based on core strengths, either of individual institutes or of the sector as a whole. Funding for research is allocated on the basis of a competitive process with independent adjudication by national and international experts.

In the period 2000 to 2004, some €22 million was provided to support 190 projects in the institutes of technology. It is projected that some €4.8 million will be expended under this initiative in 2005. The Government will continue to support and, where possible, increase the level of financial support for the promotion of research in third level institutions. It will also support the endeavours of higher education institutions as they seek to exploit other financial sources to increase their research capacity.