16th July 2010

The Union of Students in Ireland has welcomed the announcement today (July 16th) of Stage 5 of the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions.

The Taoiseach has unveiled the biggest research investment in the history of the State, with his €359 million announcement of funding as part of the ongoing PRTLI initiative.

It is vital that the Government continues to provide adequate financial support for Irish Higher Education institutions to ensure that they have the capacity and incentive to formulate and implement research in areas such as science and technology.

Researchers in colleges and universities across Ireland must continue to be trained in entrepreneurial and management skills, so that they may turn their research into commercial projects and services across the economy.

This will ensure the establishment of Ireland as a premier location for carrying out world-class research and development.

Today’s announcement represents a major development for the ailing Irish economy and brings the country one step closer to realizing its goal of becoming a leading smart economy and international innovative hub.

Gary Redmond, USI President, said:

“In order to sustain and attract foreign investment and continue to encourage the Irish workplace to up skill, retrain and engage in life long learning, it is imperative that we invest in world class research facilities that establish Ireland as a global hub for research and development.

The announcements made today under PRTLI 5 show that Ireland is open for business and will continue to provide graduates of the highest quality and engage in world class research.”