Radical reform sought of State science outlay

A group which advises the State on science is seeking "radical reforms" after £800 million was spent last year on science and technology without linking the outlay to policy objectives, according to the group's new study.

The Government had no clear system for connecting this expenditure to its own policy objectives, according to the Irish Council for Science, Technology and Innovation.

Spending needs to be better co-ordinated so that science and technology investment will pay high social and economic dividends, according to the study, issued yesterday by the council.

Reform must be radical monies money in the science, technology and innovation (STI) sector, the council's chairman, Dr Edward Walsh, said.

He continued: "There is a strong argument that Government should use the fruits of the current performance of the economy to reinvest in areas which will ensure that its development potential remains strong when the current period of exceptional growth comes to an end, as inevitably it must."

The study criticises the situation now in which there is no clear connection between science spending and wider policy objectives. It was difficult to discern a systematic and comprehensive approach, it said.

It said the State's annual spending on research and development as a percentage of GDP was only half of the EU or OECD averages. It also found "a weak focus on STI within Departments and particularly across Departments".

The Government should make an explicit strategic commitment to STI, with each Department preparing an STI policy under the Strategic Management Initiative. STI objectives based on a threeyear plan should be produced, and each Department with significant STI activity should appoint a scientific adviser.

Departmental plans should in turn be synthesised into a national STI plan by the Government's Interdepartmental Committee on Science and Technology. Under the next round of structural-fund planning, all STI activities should be in a single programme.