Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 484: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount invested by the Government in research and development every year since 2000 to date in 2008; the amount invested in each of these years by other OECD countries on average; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26901/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The amount invested by the Government in R&D activities is calculated by the Forfás Science Budget survey which uses agreed OECD guidelines and methodologies. The relevant international indicator for comparative purposes is the GBOARD metric (Government Budget Outlays or Appropriations for R&D).

The latest data available, as provided in the table, shows that GBOARD in Ireland rose from €290million in 2000 to an estimated €930 million in 2007. This equates to a Government investment in R&D equivalent to 0.58% of GNP, compared to an OECD average of 0.81% of GDP. The OECD civil GBOARD metric, excluding defence activities, estimates the OECD Civil GBOARD intensity ratio at 0.55% of GDP in 2007.