James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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870. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation following the decision by UK voters to leave the EU, her plans to ensure this will not impact on the current programme funding under the EU's vital Horizon 2020 research programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24196/16]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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The full implications of the UK vote to leave the EU have yet to be determined. Withdrawal negotiations will not begin until Article 50 has been triggered by the UK and will probably take at least two years to complete. So there will be no change in the situation regarding UK participation in Horizon 2020 during that period.

This has been confirmed by the EU Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, Carlos Moedas: “Until the end of the negotiations, UK remains a member of the EU and therefore with all the rights and obligations, including in relation to research programmes like Horizon 2020”.

The contingency framework which the government has put in place explicitly addresses the potential ramifications for Ireland of Brexit in relation to Research and Innovation:

“A full assessment will be undertaken of the opportunities and threats arising from the future disengagement of the UK from the EU, including in relation to Horizon 2020 funded research. This will include the threat of a reduced overall fund if and when the UK’s contribution to the EU is withdrawn at some point. Balanced against this, there may also be new research opportunities for Ireland as a remaining member of the EU and participant in the Horizon 2020 programme to build new collaborations with industry. These opportunities will be maximised”.

It is too early to predict the outcome of the negotiations on the UK’s exit from the EU on the Horizon 2020 Programme.

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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871. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the process in operation to co-ordinate the spacing of Irish applications for Horizon 2020 funding in order to maximise chances of success for Irish bids; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24197/16]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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872. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if steps are being taken to encourage Irish applications for Horizon 2020 funding to focus on areas in which Ireland has a competitive advantage on account of its geography, border, or industry clustering; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24198/16]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 871 and 872 together.

Horizon 2020 is structured into two- and three-year work programmes. The first work programme spanned the years 2014-2015; the current work programme spans the 2016-2017 and the final one will span 2018-2020. Each work programme is published at the start of the relevant period and sets out the detailed list and timing of calls for proposals that will be issued over the course of the two or three year period.

A National Support Network has been put in place to work with researchers and companies to identify opportunities in Horizon 2020 and to assist them in preparing proposals for funding. The Network is led by Enterprise Ireland, and is comprised of sectorial experts who are designated as National Contact Points for each of the sub-programmes within Horizon 2020. A number of these sectorial experts are based in other agencies and Government departments.

Thus, the national support network has considerable advance notice of upcoming opportunities for funding in Horizon 2020. Based on their in-depth knowledge of the sector, including familiarity with researchers with relevant expertise and innovative companies active in relevant markets, combined with information on the available budget for the calls and the likely success rate, along with historical performance, the National Contact Points are well-placed to advise potential applicants on which calls they should apply to in order to maximise their chances of success.

The Strategic Research Proposals Group, which brings together Government Departments and State Agencies funding research, chaired by the Chief Scientific Advisor to the Government, is working with stakeholders to promote large proposals to programmes with significant funding available and for which Ireland has a strong competitive advantage.

In June I outlined the benefits of Horizon 2020 funding at a breakfast event organised by Enterprise Ireland and attended by multinational companies including Irish multinational companies. The heads of three of DJEI’s agencies, Julie Sinnamon, Chief Executive of Enterprise Ireland; Martin Shanahan, Chief Executive of IDA Ireland; Prof Mark Ferguson, Director General of Science Foundation Ireland and Chief Scientific Advisor to the Government also spoke at the event to outline their support for participation in Horizon 2020.

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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873. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the total number of Irish organisations and research institutes involved and total monetary amount that has been drawn down for funding for research and development under the Horizon 2020 plan in 2014, 2015 and to date in 2016, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24199/16]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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The breakdown of the number of successful applicants from Ireland in Horizon 2020 (i.e. proposals which have been approved for funding but for which the contract has yet to be finalised and signed) and the associated EU funding secured for the years 2014, 2015 and 2016 is set out in the following table:

*Up to end May 2016

The 2016 result to May represents a similar percentage drawdown of the available budget as in previous years, and Ireland remains on course to achieve the national target of €1.25 billion.