Science and technology:Minister for Finance Brian Cowen has promised a "radical enhancement" in spending on scientific research. The research sector will have €8.2 billion available to it for academic and company-based research.
Scientific research represents about 4.5 per cent of the total plan budget of €184 billion, but the Government's already-announced €3.8 billion NDP-funded Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) represents a key element of the plan.
The strategy "constitutes one of the principal pillars of the NDP", says the Government.
The strategy will support the economy while also doubling the output of PhDs, and increase research spending at third level and in indigenous companies.
The STI programme has a number of sub-headings, including support for third-level research and company-based research, along with research in the agri-food, health, energy, marine, environment and geoscience research sectors.
Spending in these areas, along with €1.5 billion allocated through the higher education programme and €600 million via the enterprise programme, brings the total research spend between 2007-2013 to €8.2 billion.
The largest share, almost €3.5 billion, will flow into the higher education sector via programmes run by Science Foundation Ireland, the Higher Education Authority's programme for research in third-level institutions and the research councils amongst others.
Another €1.292 billion will be spent "in promoting the maximum development and optimal use of STI in Irish enterprise", the NDP document states. The goal is to see business spending on research increase from its current €1.1 billion to €2.5 billion by 2013.
Agri-food research will claim another €641 million under the plan. It will be used in support of novel food research, the development of agriculture and animal husbandry and in support of the forestry sector.
The health-research element will have €301 million available to it. It will support medical laboratory research, but also population research in areas such as public health promotion and environmental health.
Marine research accounts for another large block of €141 million, with the Marine Institute's own research strategy strongly influencing the approach taken by this sector.
Interestingly, there are two sectors with a strong association with climate change issues.
There is an energy research programme with funding worth €149 million, but also a "geoscience" research programme with €33 million.
"The energy sector is a vital, strategic sector," says the document.
The funding will support studies of renewable energy from wind, wave and bio-sources, and also research into reducing our CO2 output.
The geosciences research will include "protecting the quality of ground water, developing strategies to cope with climate change, securing new indigenous sources of energy and the optimal planning of motorways".
