Written answers

Tuesday, 14 June 2005

Department of Education and Science

Research Funding

9:00 pm

Photo of John GormleyJohn Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 145: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the plans in place to invest in strategic research and development at third level to help ensure that Ireland has security of energy production in all forms by 2012 as oil production begins to peak, prices start to rise sharply and economic systems come under strain (details supplied). [19763/05]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy may be aware that the policy issues associated with renewable energy sources are matters for my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. A dedicated agency, Sustainable Energy Ireland or SEI was established under the aegis of his Department for the purpose of addressing these issues, including the commissioning of appropriate research.

However, my Department, through the programme for research in third level institutions or PRTLI has provided for the establishment of a number of centres which, inter alia, conduct research in this area. These include the Environment Research Institute in University College Cork, the Urban Institute in University College Dublin and the Environmental Change Institute in University College Galway. In addition, both the institutes of technology and the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology may, from time to time, commission individual researchers to undertake projects on the issue identified by the Deputy.

As regards investment in research, a team of international experts recently undertook an impact assessment on PRTLI. It noted the positive impact of the programme on higher education institutions and the valuable contribution it made to the national research effort. The Higher Education Authority is currently engaged in a series of consultations with stakeholders on the development of a successor programme.

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