Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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659. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the development of an all-Ireland skills research hub; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52030/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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While the draft PEACE PLUS programme has been approved by the Irish Government and the North-South Ministerial Council, the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) are currently finalising the document for next stage of the process - namely, approval by the EU Commission.

In the context of the skills proposal, there is provision to explore the development of an all-island skills research hub. My officials are currently collaborating closely with their counterparts in the Department for the Economy to identify agreed actions which will inform the development of any Calls for Proposals to be issued by SEUPB in 2022.

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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660. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the development of an all-Ireland research centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52031/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The National Development Plan envisages the creation of new all-island research centres and further collaborations, funded through Science Foundation Ireland, the Shared Island Fund and with Northern Ireland and UK partners, and working with industry, to better harness all-island capacities to conduct world-leading research and innovation.

Engagement between all parties to define the areas of synergy and alignment of priorities and agreement on modalities of how to take forward the proposals in a collaborative way is ongoing.