Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 July 2026
112. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether he will respond to a recently published open letter with over 2,000 signatures, calling on Research Ireland to ringfence funding for non-commercial research at third level institutions. [50263/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra130. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to address concerns raised by over 2,000 academics about the future of research in Ireland following an open letter to him recently. [49640/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 130 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.
In reviewing the programmes of the former funding bodies, IRC and SFI, Research Ireland has conducted more than 20 engagement sessions since February 2026, including seven in-person AHSS-focused events across the country and two national webinars attended by more than 700 participants. Senior leadership from the agency have met with research leaders and researchers across the country, and with the representative bodies.
Last week I facilitated a conversation between Taighde Éireann, representatives of the higher education institutions and representatives of the signatories of the open letter to examine the concerns raised.
This is a continuation of the ongoing engagement which will ensure that the design of new programmes are informed by stakeholders across all research areas while protecting research excellence, transparency, mobility and disciplinary diversity. The positive and constructive engagement of researchers, research leadership, representative groups and wider stakeholder provides key insights to ensure that Research Ireland are enabled to deliver effective funding programmes into the future.
