John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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1081. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if any consideration has been given in his Department towards the provision of funding for the establishment of a further cycle of the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17526/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Research infrastructure is an essential component of any national research and innovation system. It equips researchers across all research 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 be applied in the private, as well as public research system.

Research infrastructure comes in many sizes: from essential equipment used predominantly within the host institution for both teaching and research purposes, to advanced equipment that is appropriately shared across a number of performers as well as the requirements for national research infrastructure in such areas as high performance computing. In recent years, the Higher Education Research Equipment Grant (HEREG) has been disbursed by the Higher Education Authority to help institutions invest in essential equipment. In terms of advanced equipment, this has been supported by Research Ireland's Research Infrastructure Programme, with €18m in funding being announced under this Programme on only 28 March last.

In line with Impact 2030, Ireland's national research and innovation strategy, and the new Programme for Government, my Department is advancing work on the development of a strategic and comprehensive approach to the higher education sector's research infrastructure requirements. The development of such an approach to future investment in research infrastructure will have regard to the original Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions, as well as taking account of more recent investments such as those noted above, and international best practice in this space.

I can assure the Deputy that progress in this space is a priority for me and for my Department and I look forward to advancing this work in the coming months.