Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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313. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her views on the introduction of a new five-year cycle with respect to the programme for research in third-level institutions; the duration of the cycle in operation; and when it ceases. [53300/19]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The current Cycle 5 of the Programme for Research in Third-Level Institutions (PRTLI) was announced in 2010 and has involved Exchequer expenditure of approx. €277m with a further €59m of private investment  Cycle 5 projects have now been completed and my Department is addressing the remaining payments associated with these awards. In addition to supporting the provision of top-class research infrastructure (buildings, laboratories and cutting-edge equipment), PRTLI saw significant investment in human capital development, through Structured PhD/Emergent Technology programmes across Ireland’s Higher Education Institutes (HEIs).

Innovation 2020, the Government's strategy for research and innovation, includes an action to scope out and develop a successor to PRTLI to support new investment in research infrastructure, including buildings and equipment.  It also contains an action to increase the enrolment of PhD and research masters students. The scoping of a future cycle of PRTLI has been undertaken by my Department, working with the Department of Education and Skills (DES).

While future cycles of PRTLI are referenced in the National Development Plan, Project Ireland 2040, it is important to note that actions are already being taken by DBEI and DES to fund all of the key elements that had been encompassed by PRTLI including research buildings, equipment and structured PhD programmes.  These actions include:

- My Department, through Science Foundation Ireland, has allocated circa €75m for research equipment across the higher education system since the start of 2016, providing significant additional investment for research equipment. 

- My Department, again through Science Foundation Ireland, has commenced roll-out of a new €100 million programmes of investment in PhDs and Research Masters through new Centres for Research Training (CRT). The annual budget for this programme increased to €15 million this year. The CRT programme will provide training for cohorts of Research Masters and PhD students with new cohorts of students enrolling each year for four years from 2019. It will provide training for 700 postgraduate students in areas of nationally and internationally identified future skills needs of digital, data and ICT. The first intake of 126 students commenced in September 2019.

- As regards buildings, under Project Ireland 2040, €2.2 billion has been earmarked for higher education infrastructure over the period 2018-2027.  This spending by the Department of Education and Skills will be focused on expanding capacity and upgrading existing infrastructure, as in other sectors, the funding increase will be gradual during the first half of the period.  Funding programmes include the Higher Education Strategic Infrastructure Fund which has five major projects and the Higher Education PPP programme, which incorporates eleven projects across the Institute of Technology/Technological University sector.  It also includes the funding of certain research activities, most notably by the Irish Research Council. 

The actions being taken by my Department and the Department of Education and Skills are addressing to a significant degree the requirements for increased investment in both physical infrastructure and human capital in higher education research as identified in Innovation 2020.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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314. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the level of public research and development intensity as measured as a percentage of GDP on an annual basis in each of the years 2010 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form. [53301/19]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The table below shows Ireland's Government Budget Allocations on R&D as percentage of GDP, 2010-2018, with an estimate for 2019.

Table 1: Ireland's Government Budget Allocations on R&D as percentage of GDP, 2010-2019

For more information, please see the R&D Budget 2018-2019 at the following link:

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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315. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the amount expended as a percentage of GNP on research spending in each of the years 2010 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form. [53302/19]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The table below shows Ireland's Government Budget Allocations on R&D (GBARD) as percentage of GNP for the years 2010 to 2018, with an estimate for 2019.

Table 1: Government Budget Allocations on R&D (GBARD) as percentage of GNP, 2010-2018

For more information please see the R&D Budget 2018-2019 at the following link:

https://dbei.gov.ie/en/Publications/The-R-D-Budget-2018-2019.html 

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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316. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the latest EUROSTAT data as a percentage of the GDP, GNP and GNI of each member state; and the amount expended on research spending based on latest annual data. [53303/19]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The table below shows Government Budget Allocations on R&D (GBARD), GDP and GBARD as a percentage of GDP for EU member states and GBARD as a percentage of GNP/GNI* for Ireland for the year 2018, which is the latest data available. GBARD as a percentage of GNP and GNI* is not available for other EU member states.

Table 1: Government Budget Allocations on R&D (GBARD), GDP and GBARD as a percentage of GDP and GNP/ GNI* for Ireland, 2018

Source: EUROSTAT

For more information please see the R&D Budget 2018-2019 at the following link:

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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317. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the percentage of GNI here; and the amount expended on research spending in each of the years 2010 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form. [53304/19]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The table below shows Government Budget Allocations on R&D (GBARD), GNI* and GBARD as a percentage of GNI* for the years 2010-2018, with an estimate for 2019. 

Table 1: Government Budget Allocations on R&D (GBARD) and as a percentage of GNI*

^Source: Department of Finance, Stability Programme Update, April 2019

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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318. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the amount of capital expenditure in public research and development in each of the years 2005 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; the 2020 budgeted figure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53305/19]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Ireland has increased its investment in research and innovation (R&I) over the past decade while also introducing a range of measures to improve commercialisation of research and build strong linkages between the higher education sector and enterprise. Overall public expenditure on research and innovation, that is capital and current expenditure, has increased by 12% from €719m in 2005 to an estimated €808.1m in 2019. This is the highest amount invested by the State since 2010.

While the Irish economy has recovered and strengthened in the past number of years, levels of public investment have not yet returned to the peak of 2008. Notwithstanding this, the investment in public capital in proportion to overall public expenditure on R&I has remained broadly similar since the economic recovery.

The table below shows the Irish Government's capital expenditure on R&D for the years 2005-2018, with an estimate for 2019. Figures for 2020 are not yet available.

Table 1: Government Capital Expenditure for R&D

Source: DBEI R&D Budget 2018-2019

For more information please see the R&D Budget 2018-2019 at the following link: