SCIENCE: The Government's allocation for scientific research has bucked the trend seen in most other areas, enjoying substantial increases in two departments. There is some bad news, however, in that funding for one key research programme has been put on hold.
The science allocation in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (ETE) sees an increase of almost 60 per cent. The vote surged from €93 million in 2002 to a planned €148 million in 2003.
But there were mixed fortunes at the Department of Education and Science (DES). While the figures show increases in research headings, new spending under the Programme for Research in Third-Level Institutions, run by the Higher Education Authority, has been postponed for at least a year.
The DES allocation for "research technology and innovation" goes up by almost 42 per cent, from €5.3 million to €7.5 million. The vote for "third-level research activities" rises by about 19 per cent, from €41.1 million to €48.87 million, yet should have been much larger but for the suspended programme.
Even so, the backing for research must be an encouragement for scientists.
Most of the ETE increase will flow into two funding programmes, that run by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and the research funding programmes overseen by Enterprise Ireland.
The latter's allocation actually went up by 1.9 per cent for 2003 due to a €20 million injection for its research activities. This is despite a sharp 13 per cent reduction in funding for its county enterprise development scheme.
SFI runs a major research funding programme under the National Development Plan. Its allocation goes from €35 million in 2002 to €70 million in 2003.
The chairman of the Irish Council for Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Edward Walsh, yesterday welcomed the increase.