Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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71. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the strategic innovation fund's restructuring of delivery of fourth level education. [20751/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) was established in 2006 and projects approved under the Fund were aimed at institutional reform, enhancing teaching and learning, improving access and lifelong learning and enabling the development of fourth level activity. Funding for the SIF from the Department ended in 2012. One of the key objectives of the SIF was 'to prepare for the expansion and development of postgraduate education', and a range of projects were funded to support capacity-building within and across institutions, and particularly to support the development and delivery of structured doctoral programmes. Projects included the IUA Fourth-Level Ireland Network and the Institutes of Technology Research Alliance. These graduate education projects were complemented by a range of other projects which enhanced the research base of the sector, including the IUA's 'Open Access to Research Output', through which the RIAN portal was established; and the IOTI's Research Support and Coordination Office, established to support the growth of research capacity in the institute of technology sector. A listing of all of the SIF projects outcomes and outputs is attached has been forwarded to the Deputy.