Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I share the Deputy's passion for making sure that everybody on the island of Ireland has access to higher education and that we co-operate and collaborate. I really believe in this. I had a very good meeting with Universities Ireland, which represents all the universities on the island of Ireland. I have asked their representatives to come up with a list of areas where they believe we can collaborate. I would love to see a situation where students from the North could do a module or two in the Republic and vice versa. That is a really good way to build peace and relationships and to get to know other communities.

In the context of Brexit, the Deputy will be aware that I have committed to ensuring that students in Northern Ireland can continue to access the Erasmus+ programme. It is really important to be outward-looking and to engage with other countries and their education systems. I have Government approval for a scheme whereby any student in Northern Ireland can do this. Such students would need to register temporarily in an Irish institution. This is a very important commitment for the Irish Government and I am very pleased that we are delivering on it.

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