4043. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the planned date to establish an external stakeholder working group by end of 2026 (details supplied); the number of seats; the nomination or expression-of-interest process and dates; the selection criteria and appointing authority; the number of seats allocated to representatives of practitioners and organisations operating outside universities and public research bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60683/26]

4044. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to confirm whether an individual who is not employed by or affiliated to a research body may be recognised as a research actor for the purposes of that group and of any resulting funding arrangements for the external stakeholder working group (details supplied); where any matter has not yet been determined, the body responsible for deciding it and the date by which it will be decided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60684/26]

4045. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether the proposed Public Engagement and Participatory Research Framework will define citizen science separately from public engagement and engaged research; the budget and opening date of any funding calls for 2027; whether individual citizens will be eligible to hold and administer awards hold primary responsibility for the scientific and technical direction of funded work; where definition, eligibility or scientific leadership has not been decided, the body responsible for deciding it, the consultation process and the date for the decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60685/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 4043, 4044 and 4045 together.

Further to the commitment in the published Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland Public Engagement Consensus Conference Report, the agency will establish an external stakeholder working group within the timelines committed to in the report. This process is currently in the initial planning stages. Membership of this group will not be restricted to those working in Higher Education Institutions or the public sector. Further details will be available on the process shortly, and expressions of interest for membership, and terms of reference will be published on the agency website in due course.

In addition, Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland is currently planning for the other commitments made in the Public Engagement Consensus Conference Report, such as redesigning funding programmes to support a greater range of organisations and supporting a Community of Practice in Public Engagement.

Individuals are recognised as important and valued actors within the research ecosystem. However, in order to be eligible for funding from Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland, the applicant must be registered appropriately as an eligible research body. Details regarding eligibility criteria can be found under the published Eligible Research Bodies information on the agency website.

The legal obligations of the agency in relation to arrangements for the funding of research and innovation are detailed in Part 3 of the Research and Innovation Act 2024. All agency programme design requires the approval of the Board of the agency and the CEO. Any investment of public funds must be protected and funding processes have been specifically detailed in the Act for this reason.

These specific risk mitigation measures and stringent reporting and oversight requirements are necessary where there may not be concrete outputs that would usually be attached to any public funding and where a research project may disprove the premise of the research undertaken or discover that a proposed path forwards is unviable. This is a normal and expected part of the research process and, once the methodology and integrity of the research is impeccable, and the findings are recorded and shared in a way that advances the stock of knowledge and furthers discovery, it is not categorised as a loss. This risk is mitigated by ensuring that funding is only allocated with meticulous governance, oversight, progress reporting and financial reporting mechanisms in place. It must involve a research performing organisation with the requisite experience in research accounting, financial reporting, governance requirements, procurement and grant management protocols. Also, compliance with all related circulars and requirements regarding grant management, who will stand over the credentials and capacity of the applicant and support them in completing these requirements to the required highest standards.

The Research and Innovation Act 2024 also provides that any combination of institutions, providers, organisations, bodies and companies may form consortia to support an application, meaning the higher education institution or research performing organisation is willing to stand over the credentials of an individual researcher and support the oversight and reporting requirements attached to the funding. This is a legal requirement, rather than a policy decision, and ensures that public spending code and related grant management protocol requirements are being met and to mitigate risk in relation to the investment of public funds in research and innovation. All funding awards made by the agency are required to adhere to these standards.