Cross-Border Co-operation

Tuesday, 4 December 2012

Questions (201, 202)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

201. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline projects on which his Department co-operates with the Department of Education in the North. [54152/12]

View answer

202. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline projects which his Department cooperates with the Department of Employment and Learning in the North. [54153/12]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 201 and 202 together.

My Department co-operates with a number of Departments and Offices in Northern Ireland in co-sponsoring projects which have a cross-border dimension and include among their objectives increasing mutual understanding and advancing peace and reconciliation on the island of Ireland. The projects and Northern co-sponsors are listed in the attached table.

Department of Education and Skills

North South Co-operation Projects & Programmes

Name	Target Grouping	Irish Government Department/Agency	Northern Ireland Executive Department/Agency
Children’s Book Week – annual event to promote reading among children	School, Youth, Teachers and Parents	Dept. Education & Skills	Dept. Education Northern Ireland
Cinemagic – annual film festival for young people from 4 to 25 years of age	School, Youth, adults & Teachers	Dept. Education & Skills	- Dept. of Culture, Arts & Leisure NI - Northern Ireland Screen
Dissolving Boundaries – links schools North and South in partnerships forged through the Internet and school exchanges	School, Youth & Teachers	Dept. Education & Skills	Dept. Education Northern Ireland
European Studies Project – through co-operative projects at post primary level enhances children’s’ awareness of EU social, economic and political issues and structures	School, Youth & Teachers	Dept. Education & Skills	Dept. Education Northern Ireland
Irish Science Olympiad – brings together science students from the 32 counties in friendly competition for selection to an all island team for the International Science Olympiad	School, Youth & Teachers	Dept. Education & Skills	Dept. Education Northern Ireland
Maths Week Ireland – promotes awareness, appreciation and understanding of mathematics throughout the island of Ireland	School, Youth, Teachers and Parents	Dept. Education & Skills	Dept. Education Northern Ireland
Pushkin Prizes – promotes creativity in adults and children through the medium of the arts and the natural environment	School, Youth, Adults & Teachers	Dept. Education & Skills	Dept. Education Northern Ireland
George Mitchell Scholarships - provides third level scholarships to enable US university graduates to pursue a year of study at institutions of higher learning in Ireland and Northern Ireland	3rd Level	Dept. Education & Skills	Dept. of Employment & Learning NI
Standing Conference on Teacher Education North/South (SCoTENS)	3rd Level	Dept. Education & Skills	- Dept. Education Northern Ireland - Dept. of Employment & Learning NI
Universities Ireland – promotes co-operation and collaboration between universities North and South and to enhance their reputations in Europe and elsewhere	3rd Level	Dept. Education & Skills	- Dept. of Employment & Learning NI
Washington Ireland Programme – enables promising university students from all traditions on the island of Ireland to participate in a six-month programme of personal and professional leadership development	3rd Level	Dept. Education & Skills	Office of First Minister & Deputy First Minister Northern Ireland