Written answers

Tuesday, 19 May 2009

Department of Education and Science

Research Funding

12:00 pm

Photo of Brian HayesBrian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 420: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the way cuts to higher education research projects announced in the supplementary budget of 7 April 2009 will impact researchers or research projects in 2009; the areas of research funding which will be scaled back; the changes which will be made to the Strategic Innovation Fund or the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19662/09]

Photo of Batt O'KeeffeBatt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The funding (including capital) being made available by my Department in 2009 for research and development activities amounts to some €150 million. This includes an allocation of over €90 million for the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions (PRTLI) and will allow projects under Cycle 4 of the PRTLI to proceed as planned. The Irish Research Council for Humanities and Social Sciences and the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology have both received an increased allocation on last year's funding which will enable a continuation of their various scholarship and fellowship programmes, although there may be some decrease in the numbers of awards made in 2009 compared with 2008. €26 million is being provided this year to projects under the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF), the largest annual allocation under the Fund to date. This funding will allow projects under both cycles of SIF to continue, however some slow-down of activity on approved projects may be required to remain within this overall funding provision.

Photo of Brian HayesBrian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 421: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of researchers or research projects funded by strand one funding by the Higher Education Authority each year since the funding was introduced; the level of funding allocated under strand one to date; if this type of funding will be available in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19663/09]

Photo of Batt O'KeeffeBatt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that the Deputy is referring to the Technological Sector Research Programme, which provides funding for research activities in the Institutes of Technology and the Dublin Institute of Technology. The first of the three strands of this programme provides funding on a multi-annual basis for the training in research and development skills for graduates undertaking a Masters degree.

The number of awards and annual expenditure under this strand of the programme for the years 2000 to 2008, inclusive, are outlined in the following chart. The funding being provided to the overall programme in 2009 amounts to €6.6 million which will be allocated by the institutes across the three strands of the programme. I understand that the level of funding will be sufficient to meet commitments to existing award holders.

I would also like to inform the Deputy that the HEA has commissioned a review of the Technological Sector Research Programme and this report will be available to my Department in the near future.

Number of TSR Strand 1 Researchers Approved
YearNumber
200049
200177
200277
200360
200461
200578
2006100
2007100
2008100
Annual Expenditure under TSR Strand 1
Year
2000€267,170
2001€1,382,493
2002€2,086,774
2003€2,315,495
2004€2,116,703
2005€2,075,467
2006€2,600,024
2007€2,813,193
2008€2,940,498

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