Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 6 Oct 1998

Vol. 494 No. 4

Written Answers. - Foreign Language Exchange Programmes.

Michael Ring

Question:

441 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science whether there are local or EU funded grants or exchange schemes which would assist and finance Irish students wishing to learn a foreign language in another EU country. [18578/98]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

Socrates, the European Community Action Programme for co-operation in the field of Education promotes mobility and exchange programmes aimed at improving the knowledge of languages of the European Union.

At third level the Erasmus action programme provides for exchanges of students for recognised periods of study abroad, language preparation for outgoing and incoming students and staff and language studies combined with other academic disciplines. In Ireland, the National Agency for the Erasmus Programme is the Higher Education Authority.

The Lingua Action of this programme has as its overall aim the promotion of language learning. Lingua Action E of the Lingua programme in particular focuses on exchanges of young people between the ages of 14 and 25 years old within the framework of a joint educational project. The aim of this action is to contribute to an improvement of young people's motivation and capacity to communicate in foreign languages. In Ireland, this programme is administered by Léargas.

Leonardo da Vinci is the European Union programme for the implementation of a European Community vocational training policy. One of the aims of this programme is to develop language and other skills relevant for a mobile workforce. Under this programme, a number of post-leaving certificate students as well as those undergoing initial vocational education and training may avail of up to 12 weeks' study in another member state in order to support the development of language skills. In Ireland this programme is administered by Léargas.

In addition, the post-leaving certificate courses in international teleservices include a mandatory work placement abroad of at least 17 weeks so that students can achieve the required level of immersion in their chosen continental language and culture. A grant scheme of up to £2,000 per student has been introduced towards the cost of this, for all participants in the programme, in the selected centres.