Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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83. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the person or agency responsible for the Erasmus programme in Ireland for 2014-2020. [15826/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The national agencies for Erasmus+ in Ireland are Léargas for school, adult education and vocational education and training and the Higher Education Authority for higher education. The national agencies are responsible for promoting and implementing the programme at national level.

The overall national authority for the education and training elements of the Erasmus+ programme in Ireland is my Department. The national authority has responsibility for appointing the national agencies and overseeing their work.

Erasmus+ will provide opportunities for over four million Europeans to study, train, gain work experience and volunteer abroad. To tackle the skills gaps we are facing in Europe, Erasmus+ will also support transnational partnerships among education, training and youth institutions and organisations to foster cooperation and bridge the worlds of education and work. It will also support national efforts to modernise education, training and youth systems. In 2014, it is anticipated that Ireland will receive €19 million in funding for Erasmus+ activities.