Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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79. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will, further to his recent replies to questions relating to a new science strategy, publish the framework and terms of reference which he references in those replies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36052/14]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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80. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide the specific persons and organisations who have had a direct input into the draft framework and terms of reference of the new science strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36053/14]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 80 together.

As I mentioned in my reply, work on a new strategy for Science Technology and Innovation is ongoing and at an early stage. A frame of reference to guide specific structured consultations being undertaken in the context of a new strategy will be developed at the appropriate time in the process.

The focus at the moment is identifying, through dialogue with existing consultation groups including the Prioritisation Action Group, Technology Ireland, Horizon 2020 Implementation Group, Knowledge Transfer Ireland Industry Advisory Group etc., the key issues that should be included in any new strategy on Science Technology and Innovation.

My Department is also identifying key issues arising through participation in a number of groups with broad stakeholder representation in relevant sectoral areas including Health (through the Healthy Ireland Council and the Health Innovation Hub National Project Team), Smart Aging (through a group chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach) and Marine (through the Marine Coordination Group). Moreover, officials in my Department are also involved in groups with representation from academic, industry and government bodies, including special initiative groups on "big data" and "manufacturing".

Furthermore, a support network of National Contact Points coordinated by Enterprise Ireland comprising knowledgeable and experienced practitioners from relevant Departments and agencies interacts with companies and academics in relation to funding opportunities presented by Horizon 2020.

In addition, a number of key reports are being or have recently been prepared in my Department – all of which had structured consultation with stakeholders built in, and all of which will inform the new strategy. These include, inter alia:

- Research Prioritisation Action Plans;

- Identification of fine-grained enterprise research needs for the 14 Research Prioritisation Priority Areas;

- Medium Term Development of the Irish Market Focussed Element of the Irish Research Centre Landscape Ecosystem;

- Optimising Policy Intervention to Strengthen the Impacts of Enterprise RD&I in Ireland.

In addition, I am aware of further work being undertaken in the Department of Education and Skills to which I am also assigned, which also has an important consultative dimension and which will very usefully inform the development of a new strategy. These include a review of funding of the Higher Education sector, a review of STEM education and target-setting by Higher Education Institutions for Horizon 2020.

My view is that there are substantial and diverse channels of ongoing consultation which are being used to inform the developmental stage of the new strategy and these can be supplemented as necessary, as I have said, with an appropriate frame of reference to guide further focused consultations as necessary and at the appropriate time.