James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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284. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the status of funding for the programme for research in third level institutions PRTLI; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35157/16]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The PRTLI supports the provision of research infrastructure as well as trained researchers, through Structured PhD programmes, across Ireland’s Higher Education Institutes (HEIs).

Total investment in the five Cycles of PRTLI to date has amounted to €1.2 billion from both Exchequer and private investment. With respect to the current Cycle (Cycle 5), the Exchequer component is €277m with a further €59m of private investment. The majority of projects in Cycle 5 are progressing well and should reach completion by the end of this year. As with previous cycles, there is a long lead time until the total spend and the administrative obligations are finalised. Total expenditure by my Department on PRTLI in 2016 was €30.7m, including the supplementary vote of €20m. In 2017, the budget for PRTLI is €14.4 m.

The planning and design of a successor to Cycle 5 of PRTLI is a key component in Innovation 2020 and is being progressed by my Department working closely with the Department of Education and Skills. We are currently in the early planning stages of Cycle 6. Consultation with the research community and other stakeholders will take place in due course.

My Department is preparing a proposal to seek funding for Cycle 6 of the PRTLI in the mid-term review of the Capital plan in 2017.