Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 132: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of staff in her Department, including their grades and responsibilities, charged with promoting science and technology; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17454/09]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Office of Science, Technology and Innovation (OSTI) forms part of the Science, Technology and Intellectual Property Division of my Department which also includes the Intellectual Property Unit and the Patents Office. An Assistant Secretary General has overall responsibility for the Division. The role of the OSTI is to develop, promote and co-ordinate Ireland's Science, Technology and Innovation Policy and Ireland's policy in EU and International Research Activities. Currently there are 16.6 staff serving across the 3 business units of the OSTI. The grade breakdown is as follows:

1 Assistant Secretary

3 Principal Officers

5 Assistant Principal Officers

2.6 Higher Executive Officers

3 Executive Officers

2 Clerical Officers

Another officer, at Administrative Officer level, who works part-time on a 50% basis, is currently on Maternity Leave. The 3 business units in the OSTI are as follows:

· Cross-Departmental Science Technology & Innovation Policy, Governance and Awareness Unit.

· Industry Research & Development/Financial Co-ordination Unit.

· EU - International/ Science Foundation Ireland & EU Structural Funds Unit.

(1) The Cross-Departmental Science Technology & Innovation (STI) Policy, Governance and Awareness Unit: This unit comprises 4 staff currently with 1 Principal Officer, 1 Assistant Principal Officer, 1 Executive Officer and 1 Clerical Officer. The unit has responsibility for the development of Ireland's national policy on STI under the aegis of the Cabinet Committee on STI via, in particular, the work of the Interdepartmental Committee on Science and Technology, and its operational mechanisms. One of the principal tasks of the unit is to drive and coordinate the implementation of the Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation 2006-2013 and measure its impact against pre-defined targets and metrics.

The section also supports and monitors the integrated awareness programme, Discover Science & Engineering, which is administered by Forfás, with the aim of increasing the numbers of students taking up Science Engineering and Technology as a career and promoting science literacy generally. Other key responsibilities for the unit include promoting North/South Cooperation in Science and Technology and also driving implementation in groups established under the Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation 2006-2013 (SSTI), such as the Higher Education Research Group (HERG), the Health Research Group and the Enterprise Feedback Group.

(2) The Industry Research & Development/Financial Co-ordination Unit comprises 5.8 staff in total with 1 Principal Officer, 2 Assistant Principal Officers, 0.8 Higher Executive Officer and 1 Clerical Officer. This unit is responsible for the development, promotion and co-ordination of industry research and development policy, primarily through the implementation of the SSTI. The section is also responsible for: · The research funding allocated to Enterprise Ireland and consequential policy issues arising from Ireland's investments through it; · The improvement and operation of structures for implementation of the SSTI through Technology Ireland; and · Co-ordinating and overseeing effective management of Subhead F (Science, Technology and Innovation Programmes) of the Department's vote.

(3) The EU - International research policy/ Science Foundation Ireland & EU Structural Funds Unit comprises 6.8 staff in total with 1 Principal Officer, 2 Assistant Principal Officers, 1.8 Higher Executive Officers and 2 Executive Officers. This unit deals with Ireland's engagement with EU and international research policy issues and Ireland's membership and involvement with organisations such as the European Space Agency amongst others. The unit also has responsibility for basic research funding allocated to Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and consequential policy issues arising from Ireland's investments through it. The third significant element of this unit's work relates to contributing to the effective management and drawdown of EU Structural Funds by Ireland related to EU co-funded research activities under the Productive Sector Operational Programme 2000 – 2006 and the National Strategic Reference Framework 2007 - 2013 relevant to the enterprise development agencies.

The promotion of Science and Technology issues undertaken by the OSTI is also complemented by the work of 2 other staff, who are currently serving in the Private Office of the Office of the Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation. These officers, one Executive Officer and one Clerical Officer, assist with the co-ordination of Science and Technology related activities on behalf of the Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, Mr. Conor Lenihan TD.