Written answers
Thursday, 15 December 2011
Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation
Science Foundation Ireland
5:00 pm
Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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Question 162: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the level of funding to Science Foundation Ireland over the years 2004 to 2011; its budget for 2012; the number of researchers supported in each year; the anticipated number of researchers supported next year; if conditions for qualifying for funding have changed since budget 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40497/11]
Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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The total Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) expenditure over the period 2004-2011 inclusive is shown in a table:
| Year | Capital/ Research grants expenditure(€) | Current/SFI Paybill(€) | Administrative costs of running SFIs grant programmes(€) |
| 2004 | 108.59m | 1.32m | 3.82m |
| 2005 | 118.20m | 2.74m | 4.62m |
| 2006 | 139.86m | 3.21m | 4.49m |
| 2007 | 155.72m | 3.56m | 4.77m |
| 2008 | 158.81m | 4.37m | 5.01m |
| 2009 | 171.17m | 4.67m | 4.54m |
| 2010 | 150.00m | 4.32m | 3.92m |
| 2011 | 153.80m | 4.29m | 3.56m |
As part of the transfer of certain research related functions from the Department of Education and Skills to my Department during 2010, an amount totalling €5m in current expenditure was paid out via SFI in early 2011. This €5m was for the provision of e-Journals, which allows scientific researchers access to key databases, to assist them in conducting their work. This was not an additional cost to the Exchequer in 2011.
The indicative SFI allocation for 2012 is as follows:
· Capital/Research Grants allocation is €156m.
· Current expenditure/Pay allocation is €4.40m.
· Current expenditure/Non-Pay cost allocation to run SFI programmes is €4.49m.
The number of researchers supported in each year from 2004-2011 is set out in a table:
| Year | Number of Researchers directly supported by SFI |
| 2004 | 1,067 |
| 2005 | 1,610 |
| 2006 | 1,362 |
| 2007 | 2,409 |
| 2008 | 2,806 |
| 2009 | 3,225 |
| 2010 | 2,999 |
| 2011 | 3,000 (estimated) |
In 2012 the capital provision of €156m to SFI will allow it to retain support for the current levels of approximately 3,000 researchers and 28 research centres, subject to a number of factors including the quality and strategic relevance of new grant applications received.
There are no changes to qualifying conditions for funding arising from the Budget.
There are no changes to qualifying conditions for funding arising from the Budget.
There are no changes to qualifying conditions for funding arising from the Budget.
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