Frances Fitzgerald
Question:55 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Education if she will provide funding to encourage schools to engage in cross-Border exchanges and projects. [8139/95]
Written Answers. - Cross-Border Schools Exchanges.
My Department currently provides funding for several cross-Border exchanges and projects. In recent years considerable progress has been made to develop partnerships between schools in Ireland North and South.
The two Departments of Education on the island of Ireland jointly fund and manage the European studies project. This curricular-based pilot project involves post-primary schools in the Republic, in Northern Ireland and on the European mainland. Both Departments of Education are examining the possibilities for further developing the project.
In addition to the European studies project, there is a North/South teacher exchange scheme and a study tour for principal teachers which is co-ordinated in the Republic by Leargas.
The Pushkin project is a further North/South project which aims to use the arts, particularly creative writing, to integrate children across social, religious and political divides; again, funding is provided by both Departments.
The Department of Education also aids Co-Operation North in respect of the operation of its "Youth Links" and "School Links" programmes.
Socrates, the new European Community Action Programme in the field of education, will assist in the development of school partnership projects in future years.