Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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491. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department is in a position to aid young students from the North of Ireland to seek placements in universities in the USA on the young leaders programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40260/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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My Department has no specific North-South programme that provides financial assistance for students who wish to study in the USA. The normal advice given for such requests is that individuals should direct their enquiries concerning scholarships or bursaries to the educational institution in which they intend to study.

The Deputy may be interested to know that my Department provides an annual grant to the Washington Ireland Programme (WIP) which was called the Young Leaders Programme prior to 2003. The WIP extends the opportunity to promising university students from both Catholic and Protestant communities in Northern Ireland and Ireland to participate in a six-month programme of personal and professional development focusing on leadership and service.

Since 2000, my Department has been providing an annual grant to support the WIP. The Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, Northern Ireland also supports the WIP. The WIP implements an extensive all-island promotional campaign to identify and attract students who meet WIP's criteria and share their values. Events are organised with career services in Universities, Institutes of Technology and Further Education Colleges.

The Programme brings together thirty young people who demonstrate leadership potential, a commitment to service and an interest in North-South relations for a six-month development programme. Selected students gain professional work experience in prestigious offices and are active in extensive community service at home and in Washington.

Further information about the Programme can be found on www.wiprogram.org or by calling Queen's University Belfast on 028 9099 2729.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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492. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the support available from any North-South programmes to assist students from the North of Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40261/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I understand from enquiries made to the Deputy's office that this query is seeking to establish whether there is any financial assistance available from North-South bodies for post-graduate study in America for three months for a student from Lurgan.

There is no specific North/South programme that provides financial assistance for students who wish to study in America. The normal advice given for such requests is that individuals should direct their enquiries concerning scholarships or bursaries to the educational institution in which they intend to study.

The Deputy may wish to know that my Department provides an annual grant to the Washington Ireland Programme (WIP), which was called the Young Leaders Programme prior to 2003. The WIP extends the opportunity to promising university students from both Catholic and Protestant communities in Northern Ireland and Ireland to participate in a six-month programme of personal and professional development focusing on leadership and service.

Since 2000, my Department has been providing an annual grant to support the WIP. The Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, Northern Ireland also supports the WIP. The WIP implements an extensive all-island promotional campaign to identify and attract students who meet WIP's criteria and share their values. Events are organised with career services in Universities, Institutes of Technology and Further Education Colleges.

The Programme brings together thirty young people who demonstrate leadership potential, a commitment to service and an interest in North-South relations for a six-month development programme. Selected students gain professional work experience in prestigious offices and are active in extensive community service at home and in Washington.

Further information about the Programme can be found on www.wiprogram.org or by calling Queen's University Belfast on 028 9099 2729.