EU Programmes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 December 2012

Tuesday, 4 December 2012

Questions (211)

Tom Fleming

Question:

211. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills regarding the Erasmus Educational Programme, if he will provide in tabular form for the years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012 the number of academic students abroad for each year; the number of placements with companies abroad for each year; the number of teachers abroad for each year; the amount of EU funding provided in that programme for each year for the Irish participants; and if the necessary funding will be made available to continue the programme in 2013. [54264/12]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Erasmus programmes: figures for Ireland 2007 - 2012

	2007/08	2008/09	2009/10	2010/11	2011/12*
Total Number of Students on Erasmus Study Mobility	1,514	1,421	1,660	1,918	1,898
Total Number on Erasmus Placements in companies	303	417	528	653	789
Total Number on Teaching Mobility	193	189	205	200	190
Total Number on non-academic Staff Mobility	18	28	38	43	74
Expenditure (€)	4,350,801	4,600,354	4,803,193	4,946,088	Not available until January 2013

* Estimated final numbers

Budget 2012-13 In relation to the budget for 2012-13, the Irish national agency for Erasmus at the Higher Education Authority has received a pre-financing payment of €4,979,200 (79%) of the grant allocation of €6,313,000. All participating higher education institutions have received a pre-financing payment of 80% of their grant allocation. The balance of 21% of the budget is usually paid by the European Commission to the national agency in March/April of each year. On receipt of this payment, the national agency makes the final payment of 20% to the institutions. On 26 November 2012, Androulla Vassiliou, Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth stated that:"The situation surrounding Erasmus [and the Lifelong Learning Programme] is now very serious. Unless there is a rapid response to the request for additional funding credits for 2012 which the Commission adopted on 23 October, the Commission will start 2013 owing reimbursements of about €220 million to the national agencies for the expenses incurred in 2012. The Commission's intention was to reimburse this backlog from 2013 funds, thereby at least securing funding for current and further Erasmus mobilities in early 2013. This would, however, come at the cost of further depleting 2013 funds, setting the scene for substantial and real problems in the second half of the year." To date, the Irish national agency is not aware of any immediately damaging impact on Irish participation levels. Should funding not be forthcoming, however, that situation could change for those currently on mobility and for those planning to travel in 2013.