Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 13 Jun 2000

Vol. 521 No. 1

Written Answers. - EU Programmes.

Emmet Stagg

Ceist:

265 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science if he intends to establish Léargas as a statutory agency, with its own budget line, to ensure the continuation of the quality management and implementation of EU programmes and the development of further EU programmes in the future. [16387/00]

Emmet Stagg

Ceist:

266 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science his strategic vision for the future of Léargas, the exchange bureau, as an organisation in view of its key role in the management of EU programmes in the field of education, training youth and human resource development. [16388/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 265 and 266 together.

Léargas is the national agency established by my Department with primary responsibility for developing, promoting and administering quality exchange programmes for young people. It operates as an administering agency and technical support agency for a range of EU programmes in the education, vocational training and youth fields. The company is a registered company lim ited by guarantee and has its own memorandum and articles of association.

My Department provides ongoing and active support to the Léargas organisation and there is representation both from my own Department and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment on the board of management of the company. I am not aware of any desire to establish Léargas on a statutory basis and I am of the opinion that the present arrangements for the conduct of its operations are satisfactory. I would like to mention that the strategic mission of Léargas is kept under continuous review by my Department in conjunction with the organisation itself.