David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 82: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation further to the €5 million applied research centre in cloud computing announced in May 2011, if he will provide details of its location, staff and expenditure to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26527/11]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 83: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the details of the cloud computing implementation group, its membership, the number of times it has met to date and its objectives and progress to date; if inputs and attendances from industry and other sectors have been sought and if any Irish companies are involved in the group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26528/11]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 84: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the supports available to businesses to assist the development of cloud computing programmes from the industrial development agencies, in particular Industrial Development Agency, IDA, Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26530/11]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 to 84, inclusive, together.

I announced the establishment of a Technology Centre in Cloud Computing on 12 May last. The Centre will be a collaborative research entity led by industry, resourced by researchers in Universities and Research Institutions and funded through an Enterprise Ireland/IDA research programme. Support of up to €1 million each year for a period of five years will be made available to establish this Technology Centre to carry out research on the basis of an industry-led agenda.

Since the announcement, Enterprise Ireland and the IDA have developed a Detailed Description of Needs document in consultation with Industry for the Centre. Four core research themes have emerged to form a basis for the applied research to be conducted by the Centre; these are:

Architecture

Service Lifecycle

Business Research

Cloud Security

Enterprise Ireland & the IDA will issue a call for proposals to all academic institutions to make submissions for the research centre this week. On receipt of proposals from the academic institutions, an evaluation process will be conducted during the remainder of 2011. Enterprise Ireland envisages that the centre will be established in the early part of 2012. While the establishment process is ahead of schedule, a location and staff resources have yet to be decided. No expenditure has been incurred on behalf of the centre as yet but it is expected that the engagement of a suitably qualified research programme manager will take place shortly.

Cloud computing is of relevance to a large percentage of Enterprise Ireland software and services clients as a delivery vehicle for their application and service solutions. To exploit the opportunities in this area, Enterprise Ireland is engaged in a number of activities with the relevant client companies to raise awareness of the opportunities in this area in association with the software industry and its representative bodies. In addition, Enterprise Ireland's Strategy for Development of the Software Sector features transition programmes to assist software companies to change their business models to take advantage of Cloud computing. Cloud Computing, as an emerging and exciting area of business, is a strategic focus for IDA Ireland and is a priority for development and support. A strong cluster of cloud-related activities is already emerging among the Irish subsidiaries of the world's leading ICT companies such as IBM, H-P, Microsoft, Dell, salesforce.com, EMC, VMware and many others such as Google, Amazon, and Yahoo.

Science Foundation Ireland's investment in top-class ICT research over the past decade has significantly underpinned the efforts of both IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland to develop employment opportunities for Irish based industry in a number of sectors, including cloud computing. SFI funded researchers are based across Ireland's higher education institutions and the agency strongly encourages research collaboration between its funded scientists/engineers and industry. Such interactions can lead to the scientists/engineers becoming more informed about industrial priorities and research needs; and also lead to industrial collaborators being informed about important new science and engineering research developments in Ireland. Irish industry interested in Cloud based technologies can interact with the SFI funded research community through the primary SFI industry facing programmes, such as the Centres for Science, Engineering and Technology (CSETs) and the Strategic Research Clusters (SRCs). More information is available on the SFI website (www.sfi.ie) http://www.sfi.ie/under the "Working with Enterprise" section.

Subsequent to the establishment of the Technology Centre, Minister Bruton, on 30 June, announced the establishment of the Cloud Computing Implementation Group. The objective of this Group is to support the implementation of the commitment in the Programme for Government to make Ireland a leader in the emerging I.T. market of cloud computing by promoting greater use of cloud computing in the public sector. In addressing this challenge, the Group has been asked to consider how existing State supports for cloud computing can be organised into a package to promote Ireland as a progressive place for I.T. investment, to address new security and privacy issues arising from the use of cloud computing and reviewing the adequacy of current legislation and to identify what steps need to be taken to ensure a supportive regulatory environment. The Implementation Group, which is chaired by the Secretary General of my Department, comprises representatives of the Departments of Public Expenditure and Reform; Justice, Equality and Defence; Communications, Energy and Natural Resources; The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner; Forfás, IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland; and, Science Foundation Ireland.

The Implementation Group met for the first time on 20 July and covered a wide range of aspects of Cloud Computing including skills, the potential opportunities to introduce cloud computing in areas of the public service, data protection, energy costs, and possible incentives to promote cloud computing such as agency supports and tax incentives. Since this meeting, the Secretary General of my Department has convened a number of bilateral meetings with ICT companies and representative bodies to obtain their views on how the Government can act as an enabler to make Ireland a leader in Cloud Computing. The second meeting of the Group is scheduled for 28 September. It is expected that the group will submit proposals for consideration by the Minister before year end.