Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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123. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress that has been made regarding the development of the next national research and innovation strategy; the timeline for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12774/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The development of a new national strategy for research and innovation (R&I) is a key commitment in the Government’s Economic Recovery Plan 2021, which sets out the “dual ambition of placing research, development and innovation at the heart of addressing Ireland’s economic and societal challenges, and building capacity and capability across the research and innovation system to move R&I up the value chain.”

My Department is leading the development of this new national strategy, in consultation with key Government Departments, agencies and stakeholders. 

The new strategy will set a vision and ambition for Ireland’s R&I system with which all relevant actors will identify and contribute to, with ambitious national strategic goals and objectives. Action-led Work Programmes will set out deliverables over shorter timescales. This will enable agility and responsiveness over the full period of the strategy and a strong focus on delivery and reform.

My Department has led a public consultation process and has engaged with a wide range of stakeholders in the preparation of this Strategy. Development of the strategy is nearing completion and I expect to bring it to Cabinet for consideration in the coming weeks, and to launch it thereafter.