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Research Funding

Funding Schemes

The Agency, Taighde Eireann, shall, having regard to the objects and the functions, put in place a range of schemes for the funding of research and innovation to be undertaken in the State and, to a limited extent whereby the funded body is based within the State or in Northern Ireland, outside the State. The Chief Executive Officer shall prepare draft schemes for the funding of research and innovation for submission to and approval by the Board.

The Board may either approve a draft scheme for the funding of research and innovation without modification or, after consultation with the Chief Executive Officer, approve a scheme with modifications as it considers appropriate.

A scheme for the funding of research and innovation shall specify the following:

  • the purpose of the scheme;
  • the area or topic of the research and innovation to which the scheme shall apply;
  • the criteria for eligibility of persons to undertake the research and innovation to which the scheme shall apply;
  • the criteria for the selection of successful applicants and the criteria for the award of funding under the scheme and, where appropriate, the weighting that shall apply in respect of such criteria against which applicants and applications shall be assessed;
  • the conditions to be complied with by a person to whom, or a body to which, funding is awarded under the scheme;
  • the arrangements for the assessment of applications for funding under the scheme;
  • the arrangements for monitoring compliance with the conditions of funding under the scheme;
  • the arrangements for monitoring the standard and quality of the research and innovation undertaken for which funding is awarded under the scheme;
  • the arrangements for the assessment and evaluation of the outcomes and, where appropriate, the impact of the research and innovation undertaken for which funding is awarded under the scheme;
  • the arrangements for applicants to seek a review of the procedures applying to the assessment of applications for funding under the scheme.

Promotion of Schemes

The Agency shall promote and disseminate information concerning funding schemes to such extent and in such manner as it considers appropriate, and shall administer funding schemes in an independent and transparent manner in accordance with their terms and the Act.The funding awarded under funding schemes shall be provided by the Agency from moneys at its disposal, including moneys received by the Agency pursuant to funding partnerships, and it shall be disbursed by the Agency in accordance with the terms of the funding scheme concerned.

The Agency may invite applications for funding under a funding scheme from all or any of the following:

  • a designated institution of higher education;
  • a higher education provider that is not a designated institution of higher education;
  • an organisation or body engaged in research and innovation other than an institution or provider referred to in paragraph (a) or (b);
  • any combination of institutions, providers, organisations and bodies referred to in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c).

Applications

An institution, provider, organisation or body may make an application to the Agency for funding for research and innovation under a funding scheme. An application may be made by a person who is involved in, or has an interest in, the proposal for research and innovation contained in an application on behalf of the applicant for funding. An application shall be made in accordance with the terms of the funding scheme concerned and the Act.

The Chief Executive Officer may, in respect of an application, request from, use and rely on information from An tÚdarás in relation to financial or oversight matters, and the Qualifications and Quality Assurance Authority of Ireland, in relation to the qualifications and experience of the persons proposed in the application to undertake the research and innovation concerned and the quality assurance procedures of the applicant, as respects the application and the applicant.

If, at any time after applications are invited by the Agency under a funding scheme and before awards of funding are made, the Agency proposes to revise the terms of the scheme in a material way, then the requirements of this section shall apply to the funding scheme as so revised.

Assessment

The CEO shall arrange for the assessment of proposals for research and innovation contained in applications received by the Agency. This assessment shall be undertaken by an assessor or assessors with the required expertise to do so, having regard to the purpose of the scheme, who are nominated by the Chief Executive Officer.

The assessment shall be conducted in an independent and transparent manner in accordance with the terms of that funding scheme and the Act, and may include an assessment and evaluation of the standard and quality of the proposals by peer review on an international basis, or by reference to an international standard, or by any other review process that is equivalent to international good practice.

An assessor or assessors shall, upon completion of the assessment of proposals, make recommendations to the Chief Executive Officer as to the standard and quality of the proposals, their suitability for an award of funding and, where appropriate, the conditions subject to which such an award might be made.

The Chief Executive Officer shall, as respects the applications for funding–

  • consider the recommendations made by an assessor or assessors.
  • consider information if any as respects the applications and the applicants obtained by him or her from An tÚdarás, in relation to financial or oversight matters, and from the Qualifications and Quality Assurance Authority of Ireland, in relation to the qualifications and experience of the persons proposed in the application to undertake the research and innovation concerned and the quality assurance procedures of the applicant,
  • having regard to the objects and functions of the Agency, consider the number and fields of activity and disciplines of applications in respect of which funding may be awarded by the Agency under the funding scheme concerned.

Decision on Application

The Chief Executive Officer, having considered the matters referred to, will make a recommendation to the Board as to whether or not an award of funding ought to be made to each applicant and, where appropriate, the conditions subject to which such an award might be made.

The Board shall consider the application and the recommendations of the Chief Executive Officer and shall determine the applicant or applicants to whom an award of funding shall be made by the Agency, and the conditions subject to which such an award shall be made.

The Chief Executive Officer shall inform each applicant for funding of the determination by the Board of the application by notice in writing.

The Agency shall award funding in accordance with the determination of the Board in such manner, and subject to such terms and conditions, as are determined by the Board and specified in writing by the Chief Executive Officer to each recipient of funding.

Disbursemet

The Chief Executive Officer shall disburse the funding awarded to recipients of funding at such times and in such amounts as he or she considers appropriate. At any time after an award of funding is made and whether or not all of the funding pursuant to the award has been disbursed to a recipient of funding, the Agency may agree changes to the award of funding with the recipient of funding.

The Agency may agree with a recipient of funding to change the purpose, the outcomes and, where appropriate, the impact of the research and innovation, the subject of an award of funding, arising from the research and innovation undertaken or underway.

This may be to take account of the interim results of the research and innovation, to enhance the outcomes and, where appropriate, the impact of the research and innovation, or due to an external development or factor affecting or impacting on the research and innovation, or the objectives of the research and innovation can no longer be achieved.

If, following the award of funding to a recipient of funding, the person or persons undertaking the research and innovation concerned cease, for whatever reason, to do so, the Agency may agree with the recipient of funding to cancel the award of funding insofar as it relates to the disbursement of further funding to the recipient of funding with effect from a specified date.

Recipient Conditions

The conditions that a recipient of funding under a funding scheme shall comply with may include requirements on the recipient of funding to use the funding for the purpose for which it is awarded, to undertake the research and innovation for which funding is awarded to a standard of excellence and quality to be measured in a manner in accordance with good international practice that is specified by the Agency.

The recipient is  required to provide financial information relating to the funding awarded to the Chief Executive Officer;

  • to use the funding awarded in a cost effective and beneficial manner;
  • to operate with regard to the funding awarded according to standards of good governance;
  • to comply with financial requirements as respects the funding awarded; to provide information to the Agency to enable it to assess and evaluate the outcome and, where appropriate, the impact of the research and innovation undertaken for which funding is awarded; to comply with the Act and regulations made thereunder, and
  • to comply with any other conditions that may be determined, with the approval of the Board, by the Chief Executive Officer.

A recipient of funding for research and innovation under a funding scheme shall comply with the terms and conditions specified by the Chief Executive Officer.

Reports of Recient

A recipient of funding shall provide such reports on the research and innovation undertaken for which funding is awarded at such times and in such manner as may be required by the Agency and specified in the funding scheme concerned.

A recipient of funding shall provide to the Chief Executive Officer such information as he or she may require in relation to an award of funding under a funding scheme, including information in relation to the expenditure of the funding awarded and disbursed to the recipient of funding by the Agency, and compliance by the recipient of funding with the conditions subject to which that funding was awarded and disbursed, in such form and manner, and at such times, as the Chief Executive Officer may require.

If a recipient of funding does not provide the Chief Executive Officer the information required, the Chief Executive Officer shall request the recipient of funding, by notice in writing, to provide to him or her such information, within such a time period as is specified in the notice, and the recipient of funding shall comply with any such request.

If the Chief Executive Officer is of the opinion, following an assessment of the information (if any) provided by a recipient of funding under this section, that there are serious deficiencies regarding compliance by the recipient of funding concerned with the conditions subject to which the funding was awarded, the Chief Executive Officer

shall arrange for an investigation of the matter to be undertaken.

The Chief Executive Officer shall arrange for an investigation by assessors or members of the staff of the Agency (who have not previously been concerned with the award of funding to the recipient of funding concerned), as may be appropriate, of the information (if any) provided by the recipient of funding under this section to determine whether the recipient of funding is in compliance with the conditions subject to which the funding was awarded.

Investigation

Following an assessment of information (if any) provided by a recipient of funding and, if appropriate, an investigation of the matter, the Chief Executive Officer remains of opinion that there are serious deficiencies regarding compliance by the recipient of funding concerned with the conditions subject to which the funding was awarded, he or she may request from, use and rely on information as respects the recipient of funding concerned from such bodies as he or she considers appropriate, including but not limited to An tÚdarás and the Qualifications and Quality Assurance Authority of Ireland, for the purpose of assisting the Board to determine whether that recipient of funding is in compliance with those conditions

The Chief Executive Officer may, with the approval of the Board, appoint a suitably qualified person who, or an appropriate body which, is independent of the Agency to carry out a review in accordance with this section of compliance by a recipient of funding for research and innovation with the conditions of the award of funding.

The Chief Executive Officer shall inform the recipient of funding concerned by notice in writing of the appointment of a reviewer.A recipient of funding may request the Chief Executive Officer to appoint a reviewer.

The recipient of funding concerned shall comply with a request from a reviewer to provide him or her with such information and assistance as the reviewer may reasonably require for the purposes of the review. As soon as practicable after the review, a reviewer shall prepare a draft of the report on the review that he or she proposes to furnish to the Agency, and furnish the draft report to the Agency and to the recipient of funding, and shall give notice in writing to the Agency and the recipient of funding that they may make representations to the reviewer concerning the draft report not later than 48 days after it is furnished to them.

As soon as practicable after the expiration of the period of 48 days, and having considered any representations made, the reviewer may amend the draft report and shall furnish the final report on the review to the Agency and to the recipient of funding concerned. The Chief Executive Officer shall consider the final report and, following that consideration, he or she may make a determination.

Amendment & Withdrawal

Where the Chief Executive Officer is of opinion that a recipient of funding is not complying with the conditions of an award of funding (whether or not the Chief Executive Officer has received information under from the recipient or a review has   been undertaken), he or she may make a determination to do all or any of the following with regard to funding awarded to the recipient of funding:

  • amend (including by addition) the conditions of funding;
  • suspend the disbursement of further funding to the recipient of funding unless and until the Chief Executive Officer is satisfied that the terms and conditions of the award of funding are being complied with by the recipient of funding;
  • cancel the award of funding insofar as it relates to the disbursement of further funding to the recipient of funding with effect from a specified date;
  • require the recipient of funding to repay to the Agency some or all of the funding awarded and disbursed to the recipient of funding.

If the determination of the Chief Executive Officer is a revision of the terms and conditions of an award of funding, the award of funding as so revised shall become effective from the date specified for that purpose by the Chief Executive Officer by notice in writing to the recipient of funding concerned.

The date specified for the suspension of the disbursement of funding or the cancellation of an award of funding shall have regard to any right for notice of the termination of funding to be given, or a payment to be made, to any person who is employed or otherwise engaged in undertaking the research and innovation to which the award of funding relates.

The Chief Executive Officer shall, by notice in writing, inform the recipient of funding concerned of the determination, and the notice shall specify the date from which the disbursement of further funding shall be suspended or terminated, as the case may be.

Repayment

Where a determination is made by the Chief Executive Officer, the recipient of funding concerned is liable to repay to the Agency on demand the sum so determined.

All sums due to the Agency shall be recoverable as debts due to the Agency and, without prejudice to any other remedy, may be recovered by the Agency as a debt under statute or a simple contract debt in any court of competent jurisdiction. If a recipient of funding in respect of which a determination is a designated institution of higher education, or a higher education provider or other body which is a funded body within the meaning of the Act of 2022, the Chief Executive Officer shall inform An tÚdarás of the determination of the Board relating to that institution, provider or body, as the case may be, as respects the award of funding for research and innovation concerned and shall provide the particulars to An tÚdarás.

The Agency may award and disburse funding to an institution in Northern Ireland under a scheme for the funding of research administered by the dissolved body (Science Foundation Ireland) on behalf of the Minister prior to the coming into operation of the Act. The Agency may disburse funding under a funding scheme through an institution in the State in receipt of funds from the Agency where the institution in Northern Ireland is a partner of the institution in the State or of a company carrying on business in the State for the purposes of carrying out a research and innovation project.

The Agency may disburse funding directly to the institution in Northern Ireland where the Agency is satisfied that an institution in the State or a company carrying on business in the State is a partner of the institution in Northern Ireland for the purposes of carrying out a research and innovation project.

International Co-operation

The Agency, subject to the consent of the Minister, may participate in, and contribute to the funding of, international collaborative projects for the undertaking of research and innovation by way of an award of funding to a person or body in the State under a funding scheme, and enter into an agreement with any person or body having a function relating to research and innovation outside the State for the above purposes.

The power of the Agency in this regard is subject to the following conditions:

  • the conditions of an award of funding shall be enforceable in a court of competent jurisdiction in the State;
  • the award of funding shall be subject to the assessment of the standard and quality of the proposed research and innovation and an assessment and evaluation of the outcomes and, where appropriate, the impact of the research and innovation;
  • the award of funding shall be subject to such conditions relating to reporting, financial and governance matters as the Agency considers appropriate;
  • the disbursement of funding pursuant to an award of funding shall be on a phased basis upon the Agency being satisfied as to the outcomes and, where appropriate, the impact of the research and innovation undertaken at each phase specified by the Agency;
  • the conditions of the award of funding shall provide that the Agency may, in certain specified circumstances, require that some or all of the funding disbursed be repaid to the Agency in the event of non-compliance with the conditions of the award if the Agency considers that such repayment is necessary and appropriate in such circumstances.

Funding Partnerships

The Agency to be able to enter into a funding arrangement or agreement with a public or private body in the State or elsewhere for the purpose of that body providing funding for research and innovation under a funding scheme to be administered by the Agency. The  Agency may enter into an agreement or arrangement for the administration, award, and disbursement of a research and innovation scheme on behalf of a Minister of the Government connected to an area of responsibility arising from the functions of that Minister.

The Agency may engage in administrative co-operation, and may enter an agreement or arrangement (including a memorandum of understanding) with a body approved by the Minister for the promotion and undertaking of research and innovation. This will avoid duplication of activities and support cooperation.

Data Use

Recipients of funding shall provide certain personal data requested by the agency, as necessary and proportionate, which the agency requires to perform certain specified functions. Taighde Éireann can make a written direction to the body to provide this information. Subject to the Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018, the Agency may publish the information which it receives in such form or manner as is deemed appropriate.

The Agency may share personal information, as necessary and proportionate, with other public bodies and other public bodies may share personal information with the agency, subject to the Data Protection Regulation, the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Data Sharing and Governance Act 2019. Personal information to be shared shall be as is necessary and proportionate and for the purpose of fulfilling the functions of the Agency.

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