Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 78: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a breakdown of funding from him to the US-Ireland Alliance by year from 2000 to 2011 including annual details of the portion of that funding spent directly on scholarships, on contributions to salaries, and on administrative costs; if he will further provide a list of the number of scholarships per year and the details of any evaluations undertaken by him into the operation and effectiveness of the funding provided to the US-Ireland Alliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16051/11]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 79: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a breakdown of funding from him to the George Mitchell Scholarship Programme by year from 2000 to 2011 including annual details of the portion of that funding spent directly on scholarships, on contributions to salaries, and on administrative costs; if he will provide a list of the number of scholarships per year and the details of any evaluations undertaken by him into the operation and effectiveness of the funding provided to the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16052/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 78 and 79 together.

In 1999 the US-Ireland Alliance established the George Mitchell Scholarship Programme, a prestigious and competitive scholarship programme to enable American university graduates to pursue a year of study at institutions of higher learning in Ireland and Northern Ireland. The scholarship was named after Senator George J. Mitchell in honour of his pivotal contribution to the Northern Ireland peace process.

Following the enactment of the George Mitchell Scholarship Fund Act 1998, it was agreed to establish a Fund aimed at funding up to 12 scholarships per year. The 1998 Act also empowered the Minister for Education and Science to enter into an agreement relating to the management and control of the Fund. An Agreement was signed with the US-Ireland Alliance in March 1999. An Irish Government endowment of IR£2 million was subsequently paid into the Fund. The endowment was to fund 2 scholarships of US$11,000 per year and to meet the administrative costs associated with running the programme. A further 10 scholarships were funded annually under the George Mitchell Scholarship Programme. The costs of these scholarships were met through an endowment made by the British Government (2 scholarships per year) and other private contributions and/or sponsorship (including the US Government) secured by the US-Ireland Alliance.

The nominal value of the Fund decreased in a difficult investment climate in the US. In 2003 a decision was made to rest the Fund for a period by not making any disbursements in respect of scholarships from the income generated from the Fund.

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.

In 2007 a decision was taken to secure the long term viability of the George Mitchell Scholarship Programme by increasing Ireland's contribution to the Fund for the programme by €20 million to be paid over a number of years, conditional on matching funding being raised by the US-Ireland Alliance. Such matching funding must not include funding from public funds in Ireland or Northern Ireland.

The George Mitchell Scholarship Fund (Amendment) Act 2010 was brought into operation on 1st June 2010. Pursuant to the terms of the amending legislation and new agreement, my Department paid €1,493,507 into the George Mitchell Scholarship Fund on 30th July 2010. This is the only payment made by my Department into this Fund since the initial endowment of IR£2 million in 1999.

To date, my Department has not received a claim for payment from the US-Ireland Alliance for 2011 and it is not possible at this stage to indicate the amount of funding that will be required or to give a breakdown of possible disbursements from it. My Department has not undertaken any evaluation of the George Mitchell Scholarship Programme.

The attached table 1 sets out the expenditure charged against the income from the Irish Government's endowment for the period 1999 – 2010. This information is taken from the audited accounts of the Fund.

Since the first cohort in the 2000/2001 academic year a total of 126 highly qualified US students (including the 2010/2011 cohort) have participated in the programme (see table 2 attached). 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.

Breakdown of George Mitchell Scholars by Institution and Programme