Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 521: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the status regarding the strategic innovation fund; the way the money provided will be funded over a longer period of time than initially thought; the schemes the allocated moneys will cover; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33706/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Government introduced a multi-annual Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) for higher education in 2006 with an allocation of €510 million over the period of the National Development Plan. The Fund is intended to be a major catalyst in bringing about substantial change and quality improvement in our higher education institutions and promoting system-wide collaboration that draws on all institutions' collective strengths.

Projects approved under the Fund are aimed at institutional reform, enhancing teaching and learning, improving access and life long learning and enabling the development of fourth level activity. It is estimated that payments under the Fund to institutions by the end of this year will amount to some €30 million.

The Deputy will appreciate that in the context of the current Budgetary process, it is not appropriate for me to comment on the status of any specific funding programme. The Deputy will appreciate that this is in line with standard Budget procedure and should not infer any implication in respect of the fund referred to.