James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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155. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if there are plans to reallocate the programme for research in third level institutions from her Department back to the Department of Education and Skills, in view of the fact that this fund is critical for continued investment in research institutes and higher education facilities. [51905/17]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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The PRTLI was launched in 1998 and there have been 5 cycles of awards to date. The programme awards funding on a competitive basis to Higher Education Institutions to build underpinning research infrastructure, develop postgraduate research education, and develop sustainable, long-term and broadly-based research capability in key strategic research areas.

The PRTLI has involved €1.2 billion of public and private investment to date in physical research facilities and support for human capital for research. This has complemented the investments of Science Foundation Ireland and other research funders.

Up to 2010 the PRTLI was the responsibility of the Department of Education and Skills (DES), and was administered by the Higher Education Authority (HEA). With effect from 1 May 2010 responsibility for the PRTLI transferred to my Department under the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2010. The HEA was requested to continue administering PRTLI Cycle 5 on behalf of my Department.

The transfer of functions was intended to bring together a streamlined and focused programme of funding of research and development and further strengthen the alignment of the programme with other R&D programmes of my Department. There are very significant synergies between the PRTLI and the Science Foundation Ireland human capital development activities which are in turn closely connected to industry and the work of IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland.

Innovation 2020 includes an action to scope out and develop a successor to PRTLI Cycle 5 to support new investment in research infrastructure. It also contains an action to increase the enrolment of PhD and Research Masters students. While my Department is working closely with the Department of Education and Skills to develop a successor to achieve the aims of the PRTLI, there is no proposal to reallocate the programme back to the Department of Education and Skills.

Pending a decision on a successor to PRTLI Cycle 5, and in the context of Budget 2018, the Government announced funding would be made available through my Department to address the need for increased enrolment of PhD and Research Masters students in disciplines aligned to enterprise needs. This programme will be rolled out through Science Foundation Ireland and outline detail has been included in SFI's published work plan for 2018.

My colleague the Minister for Education and Skills also announced a range of measures in Budget 2018 addressing physical infrastructure and human capital development in the higher education sector, including for research.

While a decision has not yet been made regarding a new cycle of PRTLI, my Department will continue to work closely with the Department of Education and Skills and other Government Departments to ensure that all Government investment in research and innovation is well aligned and is focused on delivering on goals and targets as set out in Innovation 2020.