Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 883: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Science the amount spent on each scholar from the Mitchell Scholarship Fund; the salary of the President of the United States Ireland Alliance; the amount spent on expenses; the way that they are accounted; and if she will make a statement on the material benefit of this scheme to Ireland. [14557/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The funding of the George Mitchell Scholarship Programme is a reflection of the Government's gratitude for the significant contribution made by Senator Mitchell to the promotion of peace and reconciliation on the island of Ireland. The Government provided an endowment of IR£2million for the George Mitchell Scholarship Fund in 1999.

The Mitchell scholars receive an allowance of about $12,700 towards living expenses and a travel allowance of up to $2,300. Their fees and accommodation costs are met by the colleges they attend.

Since 2003 the only charge against the income from the Irish Government's endowment has been in respect of audit and investment advisory fees. The costs of the scholarships and administration including salaries have been borne by the US/Ireland Alliance from funds it has raised from other sources. This includes several million dollars from the US Government.

The attached table sets out the expenditure charged against the income from the Irish Government's endowment for the period 1999-2009. This information is taken from the audited accounts of the Fund which have been laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas.

The George Mitchell Scholarship Fund (Amendment) Act 2010 will enable the Irish Government to make further payments up to €20 million over a period of years subject to matching funding being raised by the US/Ireland Alliance. This additional funding will enable the Alliance to further strengthen its support for the promotion of US-Ireland and North/South relations. The programme also ties in well with the objectives of the Strategic Review Ireland -US relations which was launched in early 2009. The young Americans who study here will be advocates and agents for the strong US-Ireland relationship among the next generation. The Mitchell programme will also be a key plank in our efforts to develop education links with the United States and will increase the profile of Irish institutions internationally. This will be very important in the context of our plans to put in place a new framework for the promotion of Ireland as a centre of international education. The Mitchell scholars are likely to later occupy positions of influence in the United States whether in politics, business or the professions. We hope that their period of study on this island will create an enduring legacy of goodwill towards Ireland and be of significant benefit to Ireland in the future.