Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1045. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the application process to join CERN; and the timeline for when it will be completed (details supplied). [1363/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In November last year, I indicated in Dáil Éireann that my Department will prepare a submission for Government to consider joining CERN. In order to ensure appropriate due diligence, this memo for government can be expected by the second quarter of 2023.

Officials from my Department are now liaising with CERN regarding the total cost of membership, the application process and membership options. 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.

My Department will 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.