O'Keeffe pledge on third-level research funding

THE Government is to drive ahead with delayed funding for third-level research as part of its economic recovery plan, although it is uncertain if the €450 million which had been expected will materialise. Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe said yesterday that a call for proposals under the fifth cycle of the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions (PRTLI) will issue in the next few weeks. However, he would not say if the level of funding would match the expectation of almost half a billion euro when the announcement was due to have been made before the summer when the economic downturn became apparent.

Mr O'Keeffe also hinted the funding would form part of the research and development focus in the Government's economic recovery strategy, which Taoiseach Brian Cowen is known to be preparing.

"I'm not going to announce the funding here today, that will come as part of the economic strategy and that's where it is appropriate," the minister said.

He was speaking at the launch of a book and an exhibition at Trinity College Dublin's Science Gallery to celebrate 10 years of PRTLI, which has seen €865m invested, mostly in buildings and equipment, at higher education institutions.

But Mr O'Keeffe also hinted at the need for further reforms in the structures of colleges and greater collaboration between them. "If Ireland's full innovation potential is to be realised, we need to ensure that our higher education institutions are appropriately configured to deliver maximum impact on investment" he said.

The minister said that, while powerful new collaborations had been created through the 10 years of PRTLI and the Government's more recent Strategic Innovation Fund, the next phase of our economic development will demand imaginative new responses to reach new levels of research and innovation performance in global terms.

Michael Kelly, chairman of the Higher Education Authority (HEA) which is the sector's main funding and policy body, welcomed the commitment to make further funding available and said that colleges would rise to the challenges set by the minister.

University College Dublin president Dr Hugh Brady said the importance of research to the economy has been underplayed as, apart from the thousands of people it directly employs, the heads of the world's biggest companies constantly refer to the quality of Ireland's graduates and are anxious that it should be maintained.

"That needs to continue if we are to differentiate ourselves from China and other growing economies. But it is really important that we also keep our eye on the ball in terms of funding for undergraduate education," Dr Brady said.

A free exhibition of some of the most innovative projects funded through PRTLI is open until Tuesday at TCD's Science Gallery, built with PRTLI funding, in Pearse Street.