Noel Dempsey
Question:50 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for Education if she will intervene to ensure the necessary funding is provided by the Government to ensure the continuation of the important work of the Irish School of Ecumenics. [8286/95]
Written Answers. - Irish School of Ecumenics.
Bertie Ahern
Question:59 Mr. B. Ahern asked the Minister for Education if she will use her good offices to arrange multi-annual funding to secure the long term future of the Irish School of Ecumenics. [9283/95]
Michael Smith
Question:108 Mr. M. Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will provide sufficient funds to enable the ecumenical endeavour of the Irish School of Ecumenics to continue in view of the work being carried out by it in creating understanding and reconciliation in Ireland. [88239/95]
Máire Geoghegan-Quinn
Question:109 Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn asked the Minister for Education the efforts, if any, she is making to ensure long term annual funding for the Irish School of Ecumenics; if she will request the Higher Education Authority for an assessment of the school's application for regular long term funding; the meetings, if any, she has had with the board; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9488/95]
Liz O'Donnell
Question:110 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Education the steps, if any, the Government will take to ensure the continuing operation of the Irish School of Ecumenics; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8835/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 50, 59, 108, 109 and 110 together. I have already provided a grant of £100,000 to the Irish School of Ecumenics in 1995 to help it to address its financial difficulties.
I also arranged for officials from my Department and the Department of Finance to meet representatives from the School of Ecumenics to explore with them the scope for securing European funding under the Delors Peace Initiative for their activities. I understand that the School of Ecumenics now proposes to prepare a submission for funding with the assistance of officials from the Departments of Education and Finance, as appropriate.
I met representatives from the School of Ecumenics last week and had a wide-ranging discussion with them about their activities.
In the light of the proposed application for European funding I do not consider it necessary to involve the Higher Education Authority in an assessment of the school's funding needs.