John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 548: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress to date with regard to the implementation of educational elements of the Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40678/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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In June 2006 the Government launched the Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation. This Strategy is a multi-annual, multi-billion euro investment in research and development activity for the period to 2013. The Strategy will see Ireland secure its position as one of the world's advanced knowledge economies and become renowned worldwide for the excellence of its research. It will put the benefits and opportunities of science, technology and innovation at the heart of Irish economic and social development, grow our enterprise sector in a sustainable manner and facilitate social advancement.

It is a major milestone in the development of our national architecture for research and development and an essential stimulus to the achievement of Ireland's strategic economic and social goals over the coming years. The education system at all levels will be central in delivering on this strategy. Details of action areas for science education at both primary and secondary levels are outlined in the Strategy.

A blueprint for Ireland's advancement has been provided in this Strategy. Central to this will be the development of the capacity of our higher education system for the achievement of key targets during the lifetime of the Strategy such as doubling the number of PhD graduates, for attaining the necessary intellectual critical mass, for advancing the quality of our post-graduate and PhD training, for strengthening arrangements for industry collaboration and for providing all the necessary supporting structures to achieve the research objectives of a range of sectors. The growth of fourth level education under the strategy will have a major impact on the profile of our higher education institutions.

The educational elements of the strategy will be progressed over the life of the plan. The Programme for Research at Third Level Institutions is a key element in delivering on the objective of doubling the number of PhD graduates and the estimates for 2007 show a 15% increase over 2006 in the provision for research including the funding for a further call for proposals from institutions under cycle 4 of this programme.