Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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297. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the reason funds via Science Foundation Ireland have been withdrawn from a centre (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47019/18]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) is an agency of the Department which supports excellent and impactful research aligned to enterprise needs. As part of its portfolio of programmes, it funds a number of Research Centres which link scientists and engineers in partnerships across academia and industry to address crucial research questions.

The first seven of SFI’s Research Centres were established in 2013. SFI undertook a pre-planned international review process at the four-year stage of these centres. As part of this, the seven Research Centres were invited to submit proposals for future funding from mid-2019 (i.e. the end of their first phase of funding).

The Board of Science Foundation Ireland followed the recommendation of an International Oversight Review Panel not to provide a new term of funding for the INFANT Research Centre at this time. Instead, it is to be invited to submit a new application for funding to the next open competition for SFI Research Centre funding, likely in 2020. The reasons underpinning the recommendation of the International Oversight Review Panel have been shared with the INFANT Research Centre.