James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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23. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the status of the next steps for the PRTLI programme; when a successor phase will be rolled out; and the funding it will carry and its strategic focus. [39106/16]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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The planning and design of a successor to Cycle 5 of PRTLI is a key action in Innovation 2020 and is being progressed by my Department working closely with the Department of Education and Skills.

Innovation 2020 has set ambitious targets to realise the potential of research and innovation in Ireland. The development of a new cycle of the PRTLI programme is a key component of Innovation 2020.

There are specific human capital development actions and targets in Innovation 2020. Cycle 6 will be a key mechanism to achieve these targets, and will support us to grow our research capability and build our talent pool by funding human capital programmes, in addition to research equipment and buildings.

In line with Government policy, funding will be allocated to the Government’s 14 priority areas of research, which mostly involve STEM. Funding will also be allocated to the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (AHSS) and to STEM disciplines outside of the 14 priority areas. It will also fund Challenge based funding, which is research to address areas of social and economic challenge.

We are currently in the early planning stages of Cycle 6. In terms of next steps, my intention is to start a period of consultation with the research community and other stakeholders on our proposed approach early in the New Year.