218 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Education her views on the recent decision by the Higher Education Authority to cut the research equipment budget to universities by 60 per cent; if she will intervene to reinstate this essential investment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8516/97]

219 Mr. Martin asked the Minister for Education the reason for the decision taken by the Higher Education Authority recently to cut the research equipment budget to universities by 60 per cent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8525/97]

220 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Education the concerns, if any, she has in relation to the decision by the Higher Education Authority to cut the research equipment budget to universities by 60 per cent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8526/97]

221 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the widespread disquiet following the decision by the Higher Education Authority to cut the research equipment budget to the universities by 60 per cent; and if she will have arrangements made to reinstate the investment in the National Innovation System. [8615/97]

229 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Education the reason for the arbitrary cutback of 60 per cent on the research equipment budget to the universities; if she will outline the consequences of this decision for the training of graduate researchers, technologists, engineers and other technically qualified professionals; the discussions, if any, she has had with the Department of Enterprise and Employment in this regard prior to this decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7949/97]

266 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the Higher Education Authority has recently made a cut of 60 per cent in the research equipment budget to the universities and that this cut will have an effect on the training of many technically qualified professions which are in short supply at present; and if she will request the Higher Education Authority to reverse its decision. [8211/97]

268 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Education if she will make a statement on the decision by the Higher Education Authority to cut the research equipment budget to universities; and if this decision will be urgently reviewed and this essential investment reinstated in the national innovation system. [8213/97]

271 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Education if she has satisfied herself that the research equipment budget to universities is sufficient for the current year; if her attention has been drawn to a significant cutback in this area introduced by the Higher Education Authority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8216/97]

284 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the concerns expressed that the decision of the Higher Education Authority to cut the research equipment budget by 60 per cent will have profound consequences for the training of graduate researchers, technologists, engineers and other technically qualified professionals; her views on these concerns and the fact that science in Ireland ranks somewhere down with Greece and Turkey in the amount of Government support which it receives; and if she will make a statement in the matter. [8239/97]

293 Mr. N. Treacy asked the Minister for Education the reason she requested the Higher Education Authority to arbitrarily cut the research equipment budget to the national universities by 60 per cent; if her attention has been drawn to the profound consequences this will have on the training of graduates, researchers, technologists, engineers and other technically qualified professionals; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that there is already a shortage of skilled people in many key areas such as computer software and electronics and developing shortages in other areas such as pharmaceuticals; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that access to modern research equipment is one of the key elements in maintaining our national skills pools; if she will direct the Higher Education Authority to rescind its recent decision, particularly in view of the fact that its own CIRCA report on the management of research in Irish Universities outlines the urgent need for an increase in both the allocation of capital equipment for research and baseline funding for research; if so, the date on which this will be done; the extra money, if any, to be made available in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8329/97]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 218, 219, 220, 221, 229, 266, 268, 271, 284 and 293 together.