Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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611. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has engaged with his counterpart in Northern Ireland regarding access to Erasmus for students in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25673/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I have advised the Minister for the Economy of the Irish Government's decision to facilitate the continued access for Northern Ireland students to Erasmus mobilities in Europe and my officials remain in contact with their counterparts in Northern Ireland. My officials are continuing to work with higher education institutions, North and South to finalise the administrative procedures to support this scheme, and I hope to engage with the Minister for the Economy on these and other issues of common interest in the near future.

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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612. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has engaged with the Minister for the Economy in Northern Ireland who stated that it will be up to individual universities to allow for students from Northern Ireland to avail of Erasmus rather than a centralised plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25674/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As these mobilities for a key element of the student's programme of study, each application for mobility must be approved by the Northern Ireland higher education institution.  In tandem with this, there must be an individual learning agreement between the partner institutions.  This has always been a key component of any Erasmus mobility. 

Once these elements are in place, the question of temporary registration with an Irish higher education institution can then be addressed.

The Northern Ireland institutions have been very supportive of this initiative throughout its development.