Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 February 2021
541. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if provisions will be made for third-level students that planned to avail of the Erasmus+ programme in the 2020-2021 academic year but subsequently abandoned their plans to study abroad due to the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5636/21]
View answerThe European Commission has provided funds to assist Erasmus students with costs incurred as part of cancelled or rearranged mobilities this year. In cases where students had to cancel their Erasmus mobility due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the student is entitled to receive support in covering their travel expenses if they were not able to cancel their travel booking and where reimbursement from the carrier company/insurance was not possible.
In any case, the student should provide evidence that a booking was made and that their efforts to recover the costs from the airline/insurance were unsuccessful. If a student had already paid a deposit for accommodation or had incurred additional costs in advance of their departure, this will also be accepted as eligible for reimbursement provided evidence is given which indicates that this expenditure cannot be recovered.
These measures are being managed by the Erasmus coordinators in the education institutions, and they will be able to offer guidance and assistance with any issues Erasmus students may be experiencing.
