Education Funding.

Thursday, 3 June 2004

Questions (116)

Olwyn Enright

Question:

112 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science the amount given by his Department to educational institutions outside the State, at all levels, for each year since 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17113/04]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

Funding is provided by my Department to three educational institutions outside the State. The information requested by the Deputy is as follows. Each year Ireland, in common with the other member states of the European Union, recruits and seconds primary and post-primary teachers to serve in the 12 European schools, which provide education at first and second levels for the children of parents working in the European Commission, or other European institutions. The European Commission, as the employer of the parents of the pupils, provides direct financing for each school to cover the other costs of the schools, as the education of such children is free. My Department's contribution, by way of seconded teachers, is outlined in table 1 below.

The College of Europe was founded in 1949. It focuses on postgraduate European studies in the legal, economic, political and interdisciplinary domains. The college is residential and accepts almost 400 students each year. Of these, 275 are resident in Bruges, Belgium, and 125 in Natolin, Poland. Graduates of all nationalities are admitted to the college. My Department makes an annual contribution to the operation and administration of the college, the details of which are set out in table 2 below.

The European University Institute was founded in 1972 by the European Community member states. Its main objective is to provide advanced academic training to PhD students and to promote research at the highest level. My Department pays an annual contribution to the university. Table 3 outlines the level of payments since 2000.

Funding provided to Educational Institutions outside the State

Table 1
Costs of Secondments to European Schools
Year	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004 (Year to date)
	€	€	€	€	€
Primary	646,829.00	789,363.00	846,978.00	1,033,456.00	522,552.00
Post-Primary	711,517.00	790,237.00	942,451.00	1,193,492.00	741,052.00
Total	1,358,346.00	1,579,600.00	1,789,429.00	2,226,948.00	1,263,604.00

Table 2

Costs of Contributions to The College of Europe
	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004 (Proposed)
	€	€	€	€	€
Contribution	10,000	10,000	15,000	15,000	15,000

Table 3

Cost of Contribution to European University Institute
	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004
	€	€	€	€	€
Contribution	90,109	92,384	98,390	101,363	103,880