Scientific research funding left unchanged in Budget 2015

Spending for scientific research has remained largely static for 2015 despite ambitious job creation targets associated with Science Foundation Ireland and Enterprise Ireland.

The two bodies will have about €260 million to invest in research during 2015, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin said when delivering his budget speech in the Dáil yesterday.

The foundation has about €154 million at its disposal, up about €12 million on last year, while Enterprise Ireland has about €113 million to spend on research and innovation, more or less the same as last year’s budget.

Both organisations have been given ambitious targets for research activity, according to the spending plans set out by Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton.

The foundation is expected to fund a number of new large-scale research centres during 2015. It is also charged with increasing research awards under a number of programmes and to pull in significant support from the EU science budget, Horizon 2020.

High potential start-ups

Enterprise Ireland is being asked to support 100 high potential start-up companies during 2015, collectively delivering 2,000 job commitments, and help fund R&D projects with client companies, Mr Bruton said in his budget statement.

Funding for the Irish Research Council is also "holding steady" at just over €32 million, the amount allocated last year, a spokeswoman said. And the Programme for Research in Third-Level Institutions administered by the Higher Education Authority is also static at €34 million.

It invests in buildings and equipment needed to conduct world class research, but was not expecting an increase given it is working through a planned set-investment programme.

The foundation welcomed the small increase describing it as a “step in the right direction”. It would help it support new research centres and more fellowships, a spokeswoman said yesterday. “Funding is over a number of years so it is a matter of careful budgeting,” she said.