David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 161: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the funding that has been made available to the research frontiers programme in 2008; the amount that has been expended to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41656/08]

Jimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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The SFI Research Frontiers Programme (RFP) supports innovative, cutting-edge and internationally competitive research in a broad range of disciplines in Science, Mathematics and Engineering.

The principal objectives of the Research Frontiers Programme are:

To provide a broad base of trained researchers to support and underpin the strategic areas of Biotechnology, Information & Communications Technology, and Sustainable Energy & Energy-Efficient Technologies.

To provide advanced education and training for young researchers in a wide variety of areas.

To put in place a broad scientific foundation for Ireland's future strategic research requirements.

Under the RFP 2008 Call, SFI made 143 awards totalling over €29m (including the associated overhead for the host institution). SFI expenditure to date in relation to the 2008 awards is €10.7m with the remainder of the awards to be paid out over the remainder of 2008, 2009 and 2010.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 162: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the funding that has been made available to fund the SFI engineering professorship and lectureship programme; the progress that has been made to date in respect of this programme; the ultimate aim of the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41657/08]

Jimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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As part of the Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation (SSTI) the Government recognises the important contribution of engineering to the economic competitiveness of Ireland and proposes significant growth and strengthening of the research base in this area.

The Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Engineering Professorship and Lectureship Programme, which was launched in 2007, is an important step in meeting this objective. The programme aims to increase the number of world-class, research active professors and lecturers in engineering disciplines in Irish HEIs. The programme requires a minimum cost share contribution of 20% of SFI direct costs from industry sponsors and is designed to allow more flexible and proactive recruiting by HEIs of key research personnel in any field of engineering. Furthermore, it should assist the HEIs to develop new links, and strengthen existing interactions, with industry.

In December 2007, SFI awarded funding for 6 Lectureships and 3 Professorships across UCC, UCD, NUIG and TCD with a total value of €5.5m including industry sponsorship. To date 2 Professorship and 3 Lectureship positions have been filled and the recruitment process for the other posts is ongoing.

SFI remains committed to the recruitment of academics in the field of engineering, therefore, the Engineering Professorship and Lectureship Programme will be integrated into future calls of the SFI Stokes Professorship and Lectureship Programme.