Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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1715. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans, if any, to fund improvements in basic research equipment in our higher education institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1480/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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Research equipment is an integral element of any national research and innovation system, as articulated in Impact 2030, Ireland's national research and innovation strategy. It equips researchers across all disciplines to undertake their research, to be internationally competitive and to produce new knowledge and innovations for both economic and wider societal impact. It is also critical for training students, as well as researchers, in research techniques that can then be applied in a variety of working environments.

Research infrastructure comes in many sizes: from that used predominantly at local level within the host institution for both teaching and research purposes, to larger-scale infrastructures that are appropriately shared across a number of research performers.

My Department funds research equipment in a broadly two-pronged approach that reflects this spectrum. It invests in it at a local level by way of institutional allocations and, to this end, in November 2024, I announced a Higher Education Research Equipment Grant totalling €40m for the higher education institutions. Having regard to larger-scale infrastructure, Research Ireland runs a competitively awarded Research Infrastructure Programme. In January 2024, under this Programme, €21m in funding was announced for eight infrastructure awards, one of which is in partnership with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.

My Department will be continuing its work on this key issue for the future performance of Ireland national research and innovation system.