The Government has published a bill that sets up a new national body to fund for research and innovation.

The new agency, Taighde Éireann, will be set up by amalgamating the functions and activities of Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and the Irish Research Council.

Last year, the Government announced that the SFI Director General Professor Philip Nolan (pictured) would head the new body.

HEA act amended

The Research and Innovation Bill 2024 provides for the dissolution of SFI, and the transfer of its staff, records, assets and liabilities to Taighde Éireann.

The bill also amends the Higher Education Authority Act 2022, and provides for the transfer of certain members of staff, and records, assets and liabilities linked to the Higher Education Authority’s research to Taighde Éireann.

The new agency will fund research and innovation in arts, engineering, humanities, mathematics, science, social sciences, technology and other areas.

The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has said that the new legislation will place arts, humanities and social-sciences research on a statutory footing for the first time.