John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 154: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will expand on his comments that a half a million additional jobs could be created as a result of the Government's research and development strategy, detailing his views on where such jobs will arise; his further views on whether Government research and development expenditure represents effective value for money; and the assessment methods that exist within his Department to ensure that such value for money is achieved. [33198/06]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy may be mistaken as regards the quotation on job creation resulting from the Strategy. What I have said is that since 1997 over half a million new jobs have been created.

As regards the Government's Research & Development Strategy, this is a matter in the first instance for my colleague the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and his Department, including ensuring that value for money is obtained for the monies being invested. Chapter 8 of the Strategy itself outlines the Value for Money and assessment mechanisms covering review, evaluation, targets and indicators that will be put in place in this regard and to ensure that the investment in research is turned into commercial value to the greatest extent possible.