Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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81. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he intends to take to improve the interface between the wider research community and the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2036/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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My Department currently has a number of initiatives which improve the interface between the wider research community and Government.

I was pleased to launch Impact 2030, Ireland’s Research and Innovation Strategylast May 2022. This is Ireland’s new, whole-of-Government research and innovation (R&I) strategy and it addresses Ireland’s social, economic and environmental challenges through 30 Flagship Initiatives under five Pillars. Pillar One undertakes to enhance long-term connections between policymakers across all Government Departments/Agencies and the public research system.

In line with recommendations under Impact 2030, my Department established an Evidence for Policy function to deliver a framework to enhance long term linkages between the public policy and research sectors and to effectively embed research in policy development and its implementation. In addition, the Civil Service Management Board approved a proposal to establish Civil Service Research Network (CSRN) at its meeting in December 2022. This network will offer a forum for Departments to share best practice in engaging with the expertise available through the Higher Education research sector. An open consultation on research/evidence for policy will be launched in the coming months which will take account of feedback provided through my Department's recent consultation on the sourcing of science advice.

Other established schemes include the SFI Public Service Fellowship which offers researchers a unique opportunity to be temporarily seconded to Government Departments and Agencies to work on specific projects where they can add value resulting in mutually beneficial outcomes.

Creating Our Future was launched on July of 2021 and it is an all of Government initiative which sought to understand the challenges and opportunities the people of Ireland experience in their lives and the role research can play in addressing these challenges. Over a five month period, 18,000 submissions were receive, analysed and synthesised into 16 thematic areas. All of the submissions and the commentary from the Expert Committee are available on the Creating our Future website and I would encourage every member of this house to look at this report.

The National Challenge Fund is a solutions based approach to research funding that encourages researchers to find solutions to societal and economic problems and collaboration between public service professionals and researchers is critical for success. Central to the challenge based funding model is the emphasis that is placed on defining the challenge through collaboration and involvement with stakeholders from outside of the academic group. This model has provided the Government Departments with an opportunity to define challenges that they see through their work and where there are pressing needs.

The Irish Research Council manages a number of programmes that feature strands in partnership with a variety of Government Departments and Agencies, such as the New Foundations Scheme. For example, the New Foundations 2022 call featured strands run in partnership with five Government Departments and agencies, thereby strengthening the connections between Government and the public research system.

The COALESCE (Collaborative Alliances for Societal Challenges) was conceived with the ambition to fund excellent research addressing national, European, and global challenges by bringing together researchers and Government and policy makers, enterprise, and civil society.

The Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarships Programme is a national initiative, which is funded by my Department and run by the IRC. In the Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarships 2022 call, four government departments and agencies funded awards, thereby strengthening the connections between Government and the public research system.