Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 October 2025
22. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the position regarding the Mitchell Scholarship and the funding for it; if he is supportive of the aims and continuation of this fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54868/25]
View answerMy Department remains committed to the continuation of the George Mitchell Scholarship Programme.
In March 2024, the US-Ireland Alliance paused the recruitment of US scholars onto the programme. In March 2025, this pause in recruitment into the programme was extended for a further year.
My Department was advised by the President of the US-Ireland Alliance that the Alliance had ceased recruitment until there was a positive response to the Alliance's request that the Irish Government provide $32 million funding required for the programme's endowment notwithstanding that this is not permissible under its governing legislation, the George Mitchell Scholarship Fund Acts.
In June, 2025, officials from my Department met with representatives of the US-Ireland Alliance to press again for a re-commencement of the recruitment of US scholars on the basis of a review of the existing annual funding model that has underpinned the operation of the scholarship programme over recent years. However, the Alliance remained committed to the full funding of the endowment.
Following the meeting, a proposal is being prepared by my Department with the objective of enabling the re-establishment of the scholarship programme. My Department will engage further with the US-Ireland Alliance on this basis shortly.
