Vol. 530 No. 6
128 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the authorities, agencies, organisations and institutions established by legislation which are ultimately accountable to his Department and which deal with issues which were once the responsibility of his Department; the year of their establishment; the most recent annual budget of each body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4563/01]
The Ireland-United States Commission for Educational Exchange is the only body established by legislation which is accountable to the Department of Foreign Affairs. The IrelandUnited States Commission for Educational Exchange administers the Fulbright programme in Ireland. As a statutory public body, the Fulbright Commission in Ireland operates under an international agreement entitled, Agreement for a Programme of Educational Exchange between the Government of Ireland and the Government of the United States of America, signed by Ireland and the United States in 1988. The pro visions of the agreement were duly enacted into Irish law under the Educational Exchange (Ireland and the United States of America) Act, 1991.
The commission finances studies, research and other educational and cultural activities between Ireland and the United States. It offers grants to Irish postgraduate students and postdoctoral academic staff to undertake research and/or lecture in the United States and invites their US equivalents to lecture and to carry out research in Ireland. Support is also given to conferences and other meetings to promote mutual understanding between Ireland and the United States. To date there have been over 450 Irish beneficiaries of the programme. In 1995 the Irish Fulbright Alumni Association was founded.
The most recent financial statement of the commission is set out in the following table.
Ireland United States Commission for Education
Exchange Balance Sheet for Period 1 October 1999-30 September 2000
|
IR£ |
|||
|
1 |
Opening Bank Balance |
82,091.85 |
104,235.15 |
|
2 |
Income Bank Interest/Dividends |
9,170.54 |
11,644.18 |
|
Irish Government Funding |
20,096.45 |
25,517.23 |
|
|
US Government Funding – US$230,000.00 |
184,000.00 |
233,631.81 |
|
|
Donations |
135,792.44 |
172,420.83 |
|
|
Fundraising |
52,766.31 |
66,999.39 |
|
|
Total Income |
401,825.74 |
510.213.44 |
|
|
3 |
Expenditure Petty Cash |
300.00 |
380.92 |
|
Bank Charges |
71.76 |
91.12 |
|
|
Taxi and Courier Services |
420.20 |
533.54 |
|
|
Stationery |
1,619.98 |
2,056.95 |
|
|
Representations/Entertainment |
1,416.86 |
1,799.04 |
|
|
Interview Costs |
2,886.87 |
3,665.57 |
|
|
Advertising |
8,288.01 |
10.523.60 |
|
|
Travel |
2,082.00 |
2,643.59 |
|
|
Other |
150.00 |
190.46 |
|
|
Director's Office |
33,825.27 |
42,949.23 |
|
|
Scholarships (Outgoing-Irish) |
129,990.54 |
165.053.94 |
|
|
Scholarships (Incoming-US) – US$230,000.00 |
184,000.00 |
233,631.81 |
|
|
Total Expenditure |
365,051.49 |
463,519.78 |
|
|
4 |
Current Balance |
118,866.10 |
150.928.81 |
|
5 |
Assets Ireland/US Educational Fund |
718,784.00 |
912,667.41 |
|
Bank of Ireland stock 08-06-2000 (5,020 shares @ 7.33) |
28,979.68 |
36,796.60 |
|
|
Total Assets |
747,763.68 |
949,464.01 |
|
|
6 |
Outstanding Liabilities |
IR£ |
US |
|
2000-2001 Awards–covered by forward contract rate of 1.2315 |
4,060.09 |
5,000 |
|
|
2001-2002 Awards–funds already received rate of 1.16 |
60,344.83 |
70,000 |
|
|
Deafness programme |
24,885.84 |
||
|
Total Liabilities |
89,290.76 |
