asked the Minister for Education if she will urgently take steps to achieve better funding from Europe of the Erasmus programme for Irish students, considering the special needs of an island country so far from the European mainland.
133.
Written Answers. - Erasmus Programme.
22.
asked the Minister for Education the educational benefits which have derived from the workings of the Erasmus programme; and if she has satisfied herself that young Irish people are in a position to get maximum benefit from this programme.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 22 and 133 together.
The budget available for student grants is, in accordance with the Erasmus decision, divided between the member states on the basis of the number of third-level students modulated by the number of 18 to 25 year olds in each member state. This system provides funding which is in general terms proportional to the number of third-level students in each member state and should secure a balanced participation in student exchange across the member states which is one of the objectives of the programme. In 1987-88 distance and relative cost of living were also taken into account. On the criteria applied, Ireland would have been entitled to just under 1 per cent of the budget for student grants, but, in fact got 1.29 per cent this year. The total amount of money available for student mobility grants will increase substantially over the next two years of the programme. Given the terms of the decision it is not possible to change the system for allocating the budget for student mobility grants. However, if there is an opportunity for marginal adjustments over the coming two years of the programme I can assure the Deputies that our representatives on the Erasmus Advisory Committee will do everything possible to secure additional funding for this country.
The educational benefits deriving from the Erasmus programme are the establishment of links and closer co-operation between third-level educational institutions across the European Community as well as the availability of financial assistance to help students spend a fully recognised period of study in another member state.