Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 July 2026
335. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way in which the 2026 to 2030 Research Ireland strategy will ensure that curiosity driven research continues to receive appropriate support alongside commercially focused and industry led research; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50057/26]
View answer336. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether the proposed changes to the administration of Research Ireland’s PhD scholarship and post-doctoral fellowship programmes remain under review; the assessment made of their potential impact on researchers and higher education institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50058/26]
View answer337. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures being taken to ensure that researchers in the arts, humanities and social sciences continue to have equitable access to research Ireland funding under its 2026 to 2030 strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50059/26]
View answer338. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the engagement that took place with researchers, higher education institutions and representative bodies during the development of research Ireland’s 2026 to 2030 strategy; whether further consultation is planned in light of concerns raised by members of the research community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50060/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 335, 336, 337 and 338 together.
Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland published its five-year strategy in March 2026 following an extensive multi-stakeholder consultation process carried out in 2025. This included stakeholder workshops held across the country, a national Research Forum, an open online consultation survey and engagement with research funding departments and An tÚdarás um Ard-Oideachas, Enterprise Ireland, and the IDA.
I am satisfied that the Strategy is in keeping with the legislative remit of the agency as set out under the Research and Innovation Act 2024 which includes a requirement to support the undertaking of research and innovation in all fields of activity and disciplines by researchers with different levels of knowledge, experience and specialist skills in such fields or disciplines.
As such, the strategy includes a number of key commitments. These include:
• Maintaining a balance between investigator- led and thematically defined research and innovation calls;
• Ensuring minimum thresholds of investment in discipline domains;
• Implementing annual calls on a regular predictable schedule;
• Streamline and simplify processes and offerings by end 2026 in consultation with the research community.
As the agency commences the implementation of the strategy, new mechanisms are being developed to provide increased opportunity for investigator-led research and for the AHSS community, including larger-scale grants. AHSS researchers are also now able to lead teams on large projects, representing a substantive improvement in the opportunity landscape for AHSS researchers.
Most recently, the agency has publicly committed to moving forward with academic advisory structures to the Board as provided for under legislation; progressing a large scale AHSS initiative and leveraging AHSS expertise through academic representative structures and secondment of an AHSS expert from academia to support disciplinary expertise within the organisation.
A Programme Plan of planned activity for the year was published in April of this year, with details of available open funding calls updated on a regular basis on the agency website.
Twenty consultation engagement sessions have taken place since February, including seven in-person Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (AHSS) specific sessions across the country, and two online webinars (with audience Q&A) reaching over 700 participants. Consultation is ongoing.
