This article is from page 25 of the 2006-06-27 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 25 JPG
THE Government’s performance in attracting quality research and development positions to rural Ireland has been criticised by North Clare County Councillor, Martin Conway (FG).
While welcoming the announcement of significant funding in science, technology and research and development Cllr Conway said that the Government must ensure that it gives young people who choose to spend their youth in rural Ireland similar opportunities to their peers in the cities.
“This funding presents a golden opportunity to foster enterprise, a research and development culture and indigenous home grown industry right across Ireland both rural and urban,” he said.
“I hope this new initiative indicates that the Government is finally taking a more serious approach to research and development – to date the Government’s record in this area has been disappointing.”
The Ennistymon based councilor called on the Government to take a “more coherent” approach to job creation and ensure that there is a fair spread between rural and urban.
“I welcome the focus on creating more post-graduate opportunities in our academic institutions,” continued Cllr Conway. “However, the target set out by the Taoiseach and his Ministers falls short of that envisaged in the Lisbon agenda.
“The Government hopes to double the number of post-graduates to around 6,000 by 2013, whereas the Lisbon agenda set a target of 10,000 post-graduates in Ireland by 2010. This suggests the Government has still not realised the importance of developing a thriving ‘fourth-level’ sector in Ireland.”