Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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333. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the details of the €500 million allocated for the disruptive technologies innovation fund to be rolled out in 2019; the date in 2019 the fund will roll out; if it will be impacted by the cost overrun with the national children's hospital; if she has been consulted by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6789/19]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The €500m Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund is currently being implemented through my Department and its agencies. The Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund will see investment in the development and deployment of disruptive innovative technologies and applications, on a commercial basis, targeted at tackling national and global challenges.

€20 million has been allocated to the fund in REV 2019. Over 300 Expressions of Interest were received in August 2018. The high number of applications for funding under the DTIF meant that this first Call was a very competitive process and highlights a significant appetite among both Irish enterprise and research bodies for projects seeking to develop and deploy disruptive technologies in Ireland.

27 projects are approved for funding with many led by start-ups and SMEs. The successful projects will receive over €70 million to 2021. The successful projects represent the health, food, ICT and manufacturing sectors in Ireland.

Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) have confirmed funding for the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF) to 2022 as follows:

I understand that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform will clarify following today’s Cabinet meeting how cost pressures relating to the National Children’s Hospital will be addressed.