Science: State-funded scientific research got a boost with most departments seeing an increase in research related spending.
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, which supports Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and the Office of Science and Technology, saw a 12 per cent rise in its research budget. It will have €289.7 million available in 2007, up €31 million.
Overall the department's allocation rose by 6 per cent, Minister Micheál Martin said yesterday. This "reflects the Government's commitment to the research and development agenda".
The research budget in the Department of Education and Science also saw a substantial increase of 15 per cent, up by almost €12.4 million to €93.4 million.
Energy-related research got a particularly large increase within the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, a 252 per cent jump with funding rising from €4.17 million to almost €14.66 million.
The Environmental Protection Agency saw its budget rise by 49 per cent, from about €15.67 million to €23.3 million.
Funding for the Marine Institute, Teagasc, Health Research Board and the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies saw moderate spending increases of between 1-5 per cent.
The Radiological Protection Institute saw its allocation fall by 15 per cent from €4.66 million to €3.97 million. This apparent decline related to a once-off expenditure in 2005 for upgrades to its air-monitoring systems, according to chief executive Dr Ann McGarry.
