Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 598: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason the €8 million which was provided in budget 2007 and budget 2008 as the Government's contribution towards the funding of the George Mitchell scholarship programme has not been paid to the US-Ireland Alliance; if he will confirm that the moneys which were voted in Dáil Éireann will be transmitted as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39237/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The purpose of the decision taken in early 2007 to increase Ireland's contribution to the George Mitchell Scholarship Fund by a maximum of €20 million over a five year period based on matching private sponsorship was to allow the US-Ireland Alliance to further strengthen the US-Ireland Alliance's activities in promoting US-Ireland relations through the provision of scholarships to highly qualified US students to undertake post-graduate study and research in Irish and Northern Ireland Universities.

It was envisaged that the first tranche of €4 million by way of additional funding via my Department would be released to the US-Ireland Alliance as soon as a) agreement was reached with the Alliance on a new Funding and Management Agreement and b) the necessary legislative changes to the 1998 Act were enacted. The release of this funding has been deferred, pending completion of these arrangements and in recognition of the very difficult situation in the public finances.

My Department remains committed to progressing the discussions which are ongoing with the Alliance in respect of the new Funding and Management Agreement and to progressing the proposed legislative changes, which it is envisaged will be introduced during 2009, and to matching the private sponsorship raised by the Alliance as soon as budgetary circumstances permit.