Vol. 549 No. 3
454 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science the amount of funding paid to European schools in each year for the past three years; the number of times inspectors from his Department have visited these schools to advise and support Irish citizens and their children regarding the curriculum to be followed and third level options available here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6817/02]
Inspectors from my Department visit the European schools primarily to undertake inspections of Irish nationality teachers working in those schools, though they may, from time to time, meet with parents on specific issues relating to their children's progress through the schools. It is not part of their function, any more than it is in this country, to provide advice relating to third level options, which is a matter for identified teachers in each of the schools. However, to support them in this work, my Department has arranged for specialist advice to be provided by experienced Irish guidance counsellors to pupils and parents in the three schools in Brussels and in the school in Luxembourg, which, between them, cater for almost all Irish nationality pupils in European schools. A total of 70 visits were made to the European schools during the three years in question, broken down as follows: Bergen, five; Brussels (I) 15; Brussels (II) 14; Brussels (III) 13; Culham, two; Karlsruhe, one; Luxembourg, seven; Mol, eight and Varese, five.
The information sought by the Deputy in relation to financial support from my Department to the European schools is being collated and will be forwarded to the Deputy shortly. The Deputy should be aware that this financial support relates to the Irish salaries for teachers seconded to the schools and the cost of recruitment.
