Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 48: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the details of the various programmes funded by Science Foundation Ireland in 2008; the level of funding allocated to each programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44501/08]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 49: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the details of the programmes to be funded by Science Foundation Ireland in 2009; the level of funding which will be provided to each programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44502/08]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 50: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the details of planned programmes to be cancelled or postponed by Science Foundation Ireland for 2009; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44503/08]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 51: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the funding allocated to the Science Foundation Ireland STARS programme in 2008; if this programme will run in 2009; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44504/08]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 52: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the details of the 2008 UREKA supplements programme; the level of funding allocated to this programme in 2008; if this programme will proceed in 2009; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44505/08]

Jimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 48 to 52, inclusive, together.

The table sets out details of expenditure by SFI programme at the 31st October 2008. Arising from the recent Budget process SFI has been allocated €179.3 million for 2009 in respect of capital expenditure for research grants to third level institutions and related activity. This represents an increase of 4% on the Revised estimate capital allocation to SFI for 2008. It is not possible at this stage to provide a definitive breakdown at detailed programme level for 2009 given that funds will be allocated in the context of existing commitments and in accordance with the quantity and quality of future research proposals received by SFI.

However, given the current economic challenges and as part of the SFI strategic planning process for 2009-2013, SFI has evaluated its programmes to align them fully with the core priorities of the SFI mission and the objectives of the Strategy for Science Technology and Innovation 2006-2013. In this context SFI has decided that the UREKA Supplement and STARS programme will not be funded in 2009.

The STARS programme, which had expenditure in 2008 of €435,000, will not be funded by SFI in 2009 due to the decline in demand for laboratory placements by secondary teachers new to the programme and a shift towards delivery of Education and Outreach activities under other SFI programmes, such as the Centres for Science Engineering and Technology and Principal Investigator programmes.

The UREKA Supplement, which had expenditure in 2008 of €413,000, will not be funded by SFI in 2009 based upon feedback received from the undergraduate users and faculty providers of the programme. This feedback identified the SITES sub-programme of UREKA as being more productive than the SUPPLEMENTS sub-programme. The latter will not be funded in 2009 in favour of the former.

SFI has also decided not to run a Call for Proposals under the Stokes Lectureship and Professorship programme in 2008. This decision is based on the fact that the Stokes 2007 call resulted in twice the number of appointments than originally planned due to the excellent quality of applications received. SFI considers that it is appropriate to allow time to fully evaluate the newly appointed Stokes candidates from the first call before embarking on a second call.

For similar reasons a new call under the Research Professor programme will not be launched in 2008.