Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 July 2025
865. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware of the current proposal to split Erasmus+ into a standalone mobility programme and a skills chapter of the competitiveness fund; the Irish position on this; the discussions that have taken place on this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35205/25]
View answerThe Erasmus+ programme is the EU's programme to support education, training, youth and sport activities throughout Europe.
The objectives of the Programme are organised under three Key Actions:
Learning mobility of individuals;
Cooperation among organisations and institutions; and
Support to policy development and cooperation.
Ireland is an active participant across all three Key Action areas.
The current programme runs from 2021 to 2027 and is funded under the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) which also runs to 2027.
The European Commission is expected to make its proposal on the next MFF in the coming weeks (around the middle of July). It is also expected that the Commission will make its proposals with respect to the programmes which may be funded under the framework at the same time or soon after.
Once proposed by the Commission, the review process with the Council and then the Parliament will commence.
At this point the Commission has not made a proposal with respect to the next Erasmus+ programme and as such there have been no discussions between the Commission and Member States on this matter.
It would not be appropriate for me as the Minister to comment on speculation on what may be proposed at this point in time.
