Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 May 2026
793. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the position regarding the status of payments between his Department and an investment account (details supplied); if he supports providing the US-Ireland Alliance with the balance needed for this endowment so that it may resume selections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35921/26]
View answer794. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the position regarding a scholarship (details supplied) 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. [35923/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 793 and 794 together.
The Deputy may be aware that since the unilateral decision of the US Ireland Alliance to pause the recruitment of scholars, Departmental officials have engaged and met with its President and representatives of the Board of the Alliance with a view to securing the restoration of the scholarship programme.
These discussions have not proved fruitful owing primarily to the the demand from the Alliance that the Scholarship Fund is endowed with $20 million by my Department, in respect of which no funding for this purpose is available and which would also require legislative change.
My Department is, therefore, examining further options in terms of next steps in this matter with the aim of securing the recruitment of US students to participate in scholarships programmes to higher education institutions on this island.
