Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)
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248. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount being spent on STEM for the coming academic year in all third level institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22014/26]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Support for STEM is a key priority for me, and my Department's work in this area is essential to adding value to our economy, growing future job opportunities, and strengthening our competitiveness.

As the Deputy will be aware, last November, I launched the INSPIRE research infrastructure programme with my colleague Minister Chambers. This is a landmark moment for Ireland’s research and innovation system and a critical enabler to the system's capabilities in STEM.

INSPIRE is a €750m research infrastructure investment package over the lifetime of the National Development Plan. As well as support for Ireland’s High-Performance Computing capability and Tyndall National Institute, at least €500m will be invested in two funding streams: firstly, for local institutional infrastructure, i.e. research equipment that is used routinely within a higher education institution for both teaching and research purposes and, secondly, for shared advanced infrastructures, i.e. bigger-ticket equipment that is appropriately shared across a number of institutions and, critically, with external users. A central access portal will be built to maximise accessibility and utilisation.

My agency Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland is a primary driver for innovation, education, and career development through several key activities that promote STEM based activities. These include work in the area of public engagement and education, funding and talent development, economic and industry collaboration, and infrastructure and research centres. Together with An Taoiseach, I launched their first 5-year strategy on the 2nd March. A key element of this strategy is in building public confidence in, and enhancing public awareness of, research activity, inclusive of STEM research. Key activities outlined within the strategy include science week, curious minds awards for schools, the Discover funding programme which provides funding for STEM linked public engagement activities and the enhancement of engaged research activity - providing the public and communities with the opportunity to influence research activity.

With respect to specific amounts spent by institutions on STEM, Higher Education Institutions are autonomous bodies that are funded in a variety of ways including funding from state grants, competitive funding, tuition fees, and commercial/private income streams. The internal allocation of funds across faculties and departments is a matter for each institution to determine and therefore the amount being spent on STEM for the coming academic year in all third level institutions is not available as it is not collated by my Department.

Looking ahead, I will continue to consider all options available to me to improve the uptake and investment in STEM based activities, and to deliver on our Programme for Government commitments in this key area.