Research funding in higher education
Deputy Lawless warned that basic research was being squeezed and cited calls for greater investment. The Taoiseach said it was a budget matter, noted a recent increase in third-level funding, and said further allocations were still to be decided.
Monday's edition of The Irish Times carried an article by the provost of Trinity College Dublin, Dr. Patrick Prendergast. He made a point that I have been making for some time. Investment in research is critical and not just in commercial research, which is highly important, but in basic pioneering research. The most important discoveries happen by accident when great minds are concentrated with relevant supports. The reality is that sector of our education and enterprise portfolio is being squeezed. The discovery and frontier of basic research is not being funded as funding is being diverted elsewhere. Will the Taoiseach answer the provost's call and engage with the sector because we fear a loss of talent, risk a degradation of our education sector and, by extension, enterprise if this is not tackled?
Comment on this
This is a budgetary matter but no decisions have yet been made on spending our taxation in the budget. There was an increase in funding for third level of €50 million last year and it is anticipated that there will be a similar increase for next year but I cannot say for sure how that will be divvied up. That is yet to be decided.