Written answers

Thursday, 1 December 2022

Department of Education and Skills

Research and Development

Photo of Rose Conway-WalshRose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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118. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will commit to associate membership of CERN; if so, if he will outline a timeframe for joining; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59806/22]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Earlier this month, I indicated in Dáil Éireann that my Department will prepare a submission for Government to consider joining CERN. I expect to ask Government to consider the next approach in 2023.

Two types of CERN membership are possible – full membership and associate membership. Associate membership has been recommended by the CERN Ireland Users Group, by a Joint Oireachtas Committee and in a 2015 review of Ireland’s membership of International Research Organisations (IROs). Currently, an approach has been agreed, in principle, between DFHERIS and CERN whereby Ireland could join CERN as an associate member for a period of between 3 to 5 years and then assess the appropriateness of further membership options.

Based on preliminary indications received from CERN, the cost of Ireland’s associate membership as of 2022 would be circa €1.52m annually. The annual fee for associate membership is at least 10% of the cost of full membership (estimated at €15.2m annually). Membership costs are calculated based on the Net National Income (NNI) of member states and are updated annually.

Officials from my Department will now liaise with CERN regarding the total cost of membership, the application process and membership options. My Department will also engage with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on the capital requirement. There is no provision in the 2023 budget for CERN membership and the earliest that Ireland could join, assuming that the required funding is secured through the Estimates process, would be 2024.

Should the exchequer commitment be confirmed, Ireland can request that CERN send a task force to Ireland to carry out a formal assessment of Ireland’s suitability for associate membership. This is the normal process for associate members and the assessment could take up to a year.

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