Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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93. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will justify the stance taken by his Department in 2012, that the State's chief scientific adviser would no longer hold a separate office; and the way that his Departmenthis deemed it as best for the third level education system that its independence should be forfeited. [17034/15]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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The role of the State’s Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) is to provide the Government with independent expert advice on issues related to public science policy.

The decision in 2012 to abolish the separate Office of the CSA was taken by the Government in response to the Public Sector Reform Initiative announced in November 2011. The Office of the CSA was included in the bodies for critical review under the Public Sector Reform Initiative which called for a rationalisation and reduction in number of state bodies. It was further agreed that the role of the CSA would be taken on by Professor Mark Ferguson in addition to his existing role as Director General of Science Foundation Ireland.

The decision by Government to abolish the separate office of Chief Scientific Advisor was made on foot of a Memorandum to Government in Oct 2012 which was preceded by consultation with all Government Departments as is required.