Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

112. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the Research Prioritisation Exercise, the approach that will be taken by him to areas of higher education research that are not prioritised and in particular the supports made available to research in the humanities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28663/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The research prioritisation report provides that a proportion of investment should continue to be available to support research driven by knowledge creation. This type of research continues to be funded as part of a sustainable well functioning STI system, which helps to develop the human capital that is required for a sustainable system including postgraduate and post-doctoral training of researchers and the recruitment and retention of world class senior researchers.

The Irish Research Council (IRC), which is funded by my Department, operates a suite of interlinked research schemes, in particular at postgraduate and early stage postdoctoral researcher levels. Its remit covers the full range of disciplines spanning the humanities, social sciences, business, law, sciences, engineering and technology. This year my Department is providing €31.4 million to the IRC to support research activities across a range of programmes.