Vol. 448 No. 2
89 Mr. Kirk asked the Minister for Education, in the context of developing greater co-operation between North and South, if she will establish a special unit in her Department to develop closer cross-Border education links. [1712/95]
The possibilities for increased cross-Border co-operation in education were discussed at the Anglo-Irish Inter-governmental Conference meeting which I attended in Belfast on 25 April 1994. The two Departments of Education maintain regular contacts, at various levels, on issues of mutual interest and explore the opportunities which exist, particularly in an EU context, for increased co-operation.
I have assigned specific responsibility to the international section of my Department for the co-ordination of this Department's cross-Border links, both on a bilateral basis and in the context of EU-funded programmes e.g. INTERREG. I am satisfied that the organisational arrangements which I have made in my Department will facilitate the enhancement of existing and the development of new opportunities for cross-Border education links.
