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.