Third-level institutes are fast-tracking research programmes to devise new ways of dealing with the challenges posed by the coronavirus.
Initial funding of €5m has been allocated to examine potential medical treatments, smart technology and other practical solutions that can be employed in the coming months.
The funding follows a call from the Health Research Board and Science Foundation Ireland for rapid response research to tackle the impact of Covid-19.
It is part of a wider international effort to develop solutions and provide real-time data to inform policy responses. The impact of existing measures will be analysed in detail to determine how effective they are and to see what the longer term implications could be.