asked the Minister for External Affairs if he will state for each of the last two years the details of scholarships granted under the Scholarship Exchange programme, the number of Irish students who have studied in the United States of America, the number of American students who have studied in Ireland, the universities attended in each case and the particular courses.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Scholarship Exchange Programme.
45.
As the reply to this Question is rather lengthy and detailed, I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to circulate the desired information in the Official Report.
I have interpreted the Deputy's request for information on scholarships granted for each of the last two years as relating to the 1959/60 and 1960/61 academic years. Details of the awards for 1958/59 and the significant particulars of those for 1959/60 were furnished in reply to similar Questions on 11th June, 1959, and 17th February, 1960, respectively.
Under the provisions of the Scholarships Exchange (Ireland and the United States of America) Act, 1957, An Bord Scoláireachtaí Cómalairte made available, in respect of the 1959/60 and 1960/61 academic years, grants for the financing of studies, research, instruction, teaching, lecturing and other educational activities:—
(a)of Irish citizens in schools, universities, institutions of higher learning and other suitable institutions located in the United States of America;
(b)of citizens of the United States of America in universities located in the State.
In co-operation with the United States Board of Foreign Scholarships, An Bord selected students, professors, research scholars and other suitable persons for that purpose.
Except for the specialist grants (including those in the field of economics and management) the awards by An Bord to Irish citizens were in respect of a full academic year. In awarding grants to Irish citizens An Bord gave preference to qualified applicants in the fields of Pure and Applied Science, American Studies, Humanities, and Theatre Arts. In the case of the specialist grants awarded in the field of economics and management, executives in commerce, industry, trade unions and related fields were eligible to make application.
All the awards of An Bord made provision for return travel expenses. Except in the case of economics and management grantees An Bord did not provide for the tuition and maintenance expenses of Irish citizens in the U.S.A., such expenses being met from American sources. The awards to the American grantees also provided for maintenance and incidental expenses arising out of their academic pursuits. Tuition fees were additionally provided for in the case of the American student grantees.
The Report of An Bord for the year 1959/60, which was laid on the Table of the House on the 20th of this month contains the desired information in regard to (a) the number of Irish students who studied in the United States of America during 1959/60; (b) the number of American students who studied in Ireland during the same period; (c) the universities attended; and (d) their particular fields of study.
The requisite information in respect of the year 1960/61 is as follows. Under the 1960/61 Programme of An Bord three Irish research students in the field of Pure and Applied Science and seven Irish economics and management grantees have studied or are studying in the U.S.A. The research students are studying at Fordham University, New York; Bethesda Health Center, Maryland; and University of Illinois. Their fields of specialisation are: Physics, Cardiology and Bio-Chemistry. The economics and management grantees studied or are studying at: the University of Chicago; Northwestern University, Illinois; Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland; Columbia University, New York; and University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Eight American citizens have been awarded grants under the 1960/61 Programme of An Bord. Five of these grantees are currently here as lecturers; three of them are here as students. The lecturers are at the University Colleges of Dublin, Cork and Galway and at Trinity College, Dublin. Their fields of specialisation are: Mathematics, Business Administration, Dairy Science, English Literature and Philosophy. The American student grantees are studying at University College, Dublin and Trinity College, Dublin. One of the American student grantees is studying English Literature. The other two student grantees are studying Anglo-Irish Literature.