Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 April 2011
54 Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when successful applicants to the Fulbright International Science & Technology Award will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6657/11]
View answerThe Fulbright International Science & Technology Award was initiated in 2006 and offers students in science and technology the US government's most prestigious and valuable scholarship. It is advertised internationally to attract the most highly qualified young candidates in the countries in which Fulbright operates to study at America's leading universities. Each year it provides successful candidates with fully funded PhD studies worth approximately $60,000 per annum for a maximum of 5 years. To date, Ireland has had 5 successful awardees in the competition which opens in February and closes in May two years before the relevant academic year. Ireland's two International Fulbright Science and Technology Awardees, for the 2011 — 2012 academic year, Ms Ellen Roche and Ms Elizabeth O'Sullivan, were notified on 3 September 2010 and are currently finalising their choice of US institution. The 2012-13 competition for the International Fulbright Science and Technology Award opened in February 2011. The deadline for applications is noon on 18 May 2011. Eligible candidates will be interviewed thereafter by the US-Ireland Commission for Educational Exchange and the applications of shortlisted candidates must then be forwarded to an international selection panel in the US by 15 June 2011. Candidates successful in the 2012 — 2013 competition will be notified in September 2011.
