Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 171: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the amount of Exchequer funding allocated under the research stimulus fund of the National Development Plan from 2000 to date to research in the agri-food sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16744/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Research Stimulus Fund Programme provides support on a competitive basis for "public good" research carried out by research institutions including the universities and Teagasc and is aimed at filling R&D gaps in research activity in production agriculture, environment, rural economy and policy related measures. The research results are made freely available. In the period 2001 to 2005 a total of €8.630 million in Exchequer funding was allocated to the projects selected in this period.

The Programme was broadened last year to incorporate biofuels research. Projects supported under this Programme will complement the research work being done by Teagasc and others in the biofuels area. Under the 2005 Programme 12 research projects were awarded grant assistance totalling €4.5 million. The research projects cover a broad range of areas including agri-environment, non-food crops and agri-food economics and will involve inter-institutional collaboration.

A call for research proposals for funding under the Research Stimulus Fund in 2006 was advertised earlier this year. The research theme areas includes land use for bio-energy purposes as well as agri-environment, animal and plant bioscience and agri economy and policy. An allocation of €4 million is available for this round in 2006.