ENTERPRISE:MINISTER FOR Enterprise, Trade and Innovation Batt O'Keeffe secured responsibility for higher education research funding after intensive discussions with Taoiseach Brian Cowen.
It is understood Mr O’Keeffe lobbied for the change, which greatly diminishes the role of the Department of Education in third-level policy.
Sources say the decision to give responsibility for research funding to Mr O’Keeffe’s department will also raise questions about the future role of the Higher Education Authority (HEA).
Over the past decade, the HEA has managed the €1 billion Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions (PRTLI) on behalf of the Department of Education. Last year, the McCarthy report recommended the abolition of the HEA.
In the Dáil on Tuesday, Mr Cowen said the transfer of responsibility for research to enterprise, trade and innovation will “help to bring together a streamlined and focused programme of funding of research and development aligned with the objectives of enterprise policy”
The decision is a blow to the Department of Education, which has been dubbed the “department for schools and teachers” in some circles. Several senior third level figures including DCU president Prof Ferdinand von Prondzynski have been critical of the alleged lack of priority given by the Department of Education to higher education.
The Government hopes the new move will give a sharper commercial and jobs focus to research activity. Concern has been raised about the “failure” of the PRTLI programme to generate new jobs- despite the huge capital investment.
The recent Innovation Task Force report demanded a stronger jobs focus in research spending and the development of more “spin-out” companies by the universities.
In his new post, Mr O’Keeffe will remain a key figure in setting policy for higher education. The Government sees the sector playing a key role in the development of the smart economy.
- The new Minister for Education and Skills, Mary Coughlan, is unlikely to be invited to the Easter conference of the main secondary teachers union.
Last month , the ASTI decided that Mr O’Keeffe should not be asked to address their conference in protest at the ban on promotions and the pay and pension cuts.