Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 25: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her response to concerns expressed by third level institutions that they cannot compete on an international level due to shortages of funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27677/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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In 2005 I have provided recurrent funding of €671 million to the university sector and €475 million to the institute of technology sector. This represents an increase of approximately €41 million or almost 6.5% on the 2004 provision to the university sector and more than €30 million or 7.5% in 2004 comparable funding for the institute of technology sector. The additional funding being provided in 2005 marks a return to the significant upward trend in recurrent funding for the sector.

The overall funding, capital and current, for the third level sector, which I secured in 2005, amounts to some €1.6 billion. In 1997 when this Government took office the amount of funding provided to the third level sector was approximately €850 million. The funding being provided in 2005 represents an increase of approximately €750 million or 88% on the 1997 provision.

The OECD review of Irish higher education highlighted the key role of the sector for our future social and economic development. This echoes the report of the Government enterprise strategy group, which states that Ireland's economic development, and the social dividends that flow from that, will depend to a large degree on knowledge and innovation. Supporting our higher education institutions in playing that central role is a major policy priority for the Government.

The Deputy will also note that in 2005 there has been an increase of approximately 36% on the 2004 provision in recurrent research funding. This is evidence of my personal, and indeed the Government's, commitment to research programmes, which play a vital role in developing world-class capabilities in research and innovation and give the higher education institutions the necessary resources to meet the challenges of the knowledge society in Ireland.