4033. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the definition of citizen science applied by his Department and by Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland for policy, funding and reporting purposes (details supplied); the minimum level of public participation in scientific knowledge production required for an activity to be so classified; whether members of the public are recognised under that definition as research actors, or as participants in research directed by others; if no definition has been formally adopted, if he will confirm that position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60656/26]

4035. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to identify each currently funded structured doctoral programme, centre, training network or recurring funding stream principally concerned with citizen-science methodology, governance, infrastructure or research policy (details supplied); the participating institutions and funded doctoral places available; if no such programme, centre, network or stream is currently funded, if he will confirm that position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60658/26]

4036. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the classification system that Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland uses to identify an award as citizen science; whether that classification existed before the Parliamentary Questions answered on 28 July 2026 were tabled; if it was compiled for that reply, if he will confirm that position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60659/26]

4037. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science each citizen-science activity funded by his Department or by Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland in which a member of the public may participate today; the number of participants recorded to date and their geographical and demographic distribution for each activity; the observations or data records produced; the open datasets, publications and source code released; and, in respect of the 31 awards identified in the reply of 28 July 2026 (€18,544,560.59) the cost-per-item recorded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60660/26]

4038. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to his statement that his Department and Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland have considered the OECD paper Embedding Citizen Science into Research Policy, the date on which that consideration occurred; the officials, committee or governing body responsible; the records produced; for each of the ten recommendations, whether it was accepted, rejected, deferred or considered already implemented; if no recommendation by recommendation assessment was recorded, if he will confirm that position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60662/26]

4102. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department has been designated as the lead for citizen science and citizen-generated data (details supplied); if his Department participates in any cross-Government coordination structure on citizen science or citizen-generated data; and if so, to name that structure and the Department convening it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63642/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 4033, 4035, 4036, 4037, 4038 and 4102 together.

I have previously provided the Deputy with comprehensive information relating to these topics. My Department and Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland have also provided extensive information in relation to this matter through other channels of communication. This information is in the main readily available and published by the agency on the Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland website.

Since its establishment, Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland has funded 31 research grants that encompass these key terms, namely citizen science, citizen or publicly generated data, and environmental monitoring. The research grants referenced are all listed as part of the open, transparent records of all funding awards in Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland's open access database, which are publicly available on the agency website. This includes key word search, funding accounts, research body, and programme search options. Usage of these terms is decided by the applicants themselves as applicants self-classify the focus of their project when submitting an application via the Sesame grants management system.

The definitions used by my Department and the agency relates to each specific engagement. So, for any connection with the European Research Area (ERA) or Horizon Europe, the definition will generally be understood as defined by the relevant body. Otherwise, in the research and innovation context, OECD (Frascati, where applicable) definitions generally apply, as these provide common understanding across disciplines and countries.

Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland does not currently fund a structured doctoral programme, centre, training network or recurring funding stream that is principally concerned with citizen-science methodology, governance, infrastructure or research policy. Programme design is usually more focussed on a specific theme, national challenge, or researcher career stage. Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland supports citizen science through a number of broader funding programmes where citizen science approaches can be included as part of a wider research, public engagement or societal impact activity. These projects are not designed specifically or exclusively around citizen science, and in most cases citizen science forms one element of a broader project rather than the principal focus of the funding.

All Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland programmes are open to citizen science principles and methodologies. These are recognised and promoted as a valid methodology and data source and there are many examples of award holders running citizen science projects. However, not all aspects of an individual award may focus on citizen science; in many cases, citizen science may form one element of a broader research or public engagement project. No programme is principally concerned with citizen science currently, but all are open to this approach being built into a programme of work which responds to the parameters of the published funding call.

Ireland has no specific stand-alone reporting requirement in relation to citizen science, which is part of a wider programme of engaged research, open research, education and public engagement. My Department is a founding and coordinating partner of the National Open Research Forum (NORF), supporting and promoting Ireland's open research agenda through delivery of the National Action Plan for Open Research. The NORF engages with the European Open Science Cloud to report on open science, of which citizen science is a strand.

Citizen and open science reporting in relation to the ERA and Horizon Europe funded programmes is undertaken by participants and funded bodies at a programmatic level, rather than through the department or the agency. Information is published and publicly available in the relevant EU Commission websites.

Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland and my Department have considered the OECD paper Embedding Citizen Science into Research Policy, as part of a wider programme of review underway on Education and Public Engagement. There has not been a formal recommendation assessment as yet, because these are non-binding recommendations. There is no directive, reporting framework, or coordination of actions across a number of departments or bodies attached (which would be the usual context for this approach). These are being considered as part of the wider Education and Public Engagement and Open Science work of the agency and my Department. The Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland Public Engagement Consensus Conference, held in May; and the subsequent report, published in June, are the starting point for the agency in developing a renewed approach to education and public engagement. Updates will be posted on the agency website.