High-performance computing is at the core of the fourth industrial revolution and is central to growing the Irish economy and securing next-generation foreign direct investment, FDI. Under the watch of An Taoiseach when he was higher education Minister, Ireland's national supercomputer, known as Kay, reached the end of its life last November without a new supercomputer to takes its place. Until we have a new national supercomputer in place, academics, industry and the State will have to use the national supercomputer of Luxembourg. The Government's failure to invest in this certain infrastructure has embarrassed Ireland in the eyes of the European and international technology communities and will no doubt cost us the next generation of talent and affect our ability to attract the FDI of the future. Will the Minister commit that the Government will immediately release funds to secure a new national supercomputer?

I would love to see it.

As a former Minister with responsibility for business, I am somewhat aware of what the Deputy is referring to. I know the Irish Centre for High-End Computing, ICHEC, does a lot of work in that area. I cannot give the Deputy the detail as to why this has not happened but I am sure there is a good reason for it. I will ask the Minister to come back to the Deputy with a response.