Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 631: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he has encouraged third level institutions to specialise in specific areas in science; his strategy in promoting greater expertise in science research; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18013/09]

Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 632: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the procedures in place to encourage greater linkages between third level institutions and business in the areas of science and engineering research and development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18014/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 631 and 632 together.

The Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation (SSTI) constitutes one of the principal pillars of the National Development Plan 2007-2013, and is the Government's blueprint for developing Ireland's research and innovation capacity. The SSTI provides for a range of programmes of support across a number of Government Departments and aims to improve the scale and quality of research carried out in Ireland in the higher education, public and enterprise sectors. My Department is supporting a number of programmes under the SSTI, including the Programme for Research in Third-Level Institutions (PRTLI) and the award schemes of the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology and the Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences.

The PRTLI, which was launched in 1998, has allocated to date some €865 million to strengthening national research capabilities in our higher education institutions. While the PRTLI funds institutional projects under all disciplines, the Programme strongly encourages concentration in areas of strategic expertise, combined with collaboration between institutions in areas of mutual strength. Of the total funding, over €710 million have been allocated to projects in the health, science, engineering and technology areas. To date, the PRTLI has funded the establishment of: ? 30 centres ? 99,000m2 research facilities ? 5,800 researcher spaces

The PRTLI has both directly and indirectly led to the establishment of significant partnerships between third level research in Ireland and industry, demonstrated by the fact that over 40 industry collaborations were established under the third cycle of the PRTLI alone. Among the many examples of industry partnerships is the collaboration established in Trinity College Dublin in 2007, between the Institute of Neuroscience and pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline, that will see €14.6 million invested in research and development toward the discovery of new therapies for Alzheimer's disease.

I launched a fifth cycle of funding under the PRTLI in January this year. This funding will be focused at proposals that involve collaboration both within the third level sector and with industry, and there will be a particular emphasis on the long-term commercialisation capabilities of proposals. Proposals are also being sought from institutions in the area of structured PhD education. These programmes will provide generic and transferable skills training to PhD students and will ensure that graduates are equipped with the appropriate skills for employment in both academia and enterprise.

The Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology has established significant links with the enterprise sector through its Enterprise Partnership Scheme. This scheme, which is funded in collaboration with an industry partner, offers researchers the opportunity to work closely with a relevant industry partner while completing postgraduate or postdoctoral research as well as providing exposure to a commercially orientated research environment.