Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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384. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the cessation of the European studies programme for second level schools; her plans to restore funding to this worthwhile programme; if so, when; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16618/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The European Studies Programme has been funded on a 50:50 basis by the Department of Education, Northern Ireland and by my Department. Some €3.3 million have been contributed by the Irish Exchequer to the programme since 1999. In recent years, my Department's contributions to this programme have averaged €200,000 per annum from the budget made available to support North-South Cooperation activities.

The decision to dismantle the structure for the administration of the programme, which has been carried out by a team based at the former Southern Education and Library Board, Armagh, was one taken by the Department of Education in Northern Ireland. I understand this decision was taken arising from education budget reductions in the North, and the results of an independent evaluation of the programme by the University of Hull which found that the North/South dimension was not a major focus of the programme. I further understand that there are no plans to change this position.