Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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242. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will explore options to allow students in Northern Ireland to receive full access to the Erasmus programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21633/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Reflecting the Irish Government’s commitment to the people of Northern Ireland, work is underway to develop a scheme to allow eligible students from higher education institutions in Northern Ireland to continue participating in Erasmus+ on the basis of temporary registration at Irish higher education institutions.

It was planned to put the scheme in place from September 2022, as higher education institutions in Northern Ireland are participating directly in the Erasmus+ programme for the 2021/22 academic year. The Irish Government were advised by Northern Ireland Universities that their participation in the Erasmus was further extended to May 2023, arising from the impact of the Covid -19 pandemic.

The planned scheme to allow eligible students from higher education institutions in Northern Ireland to continue participating in Erasmus+ on the basis of temporary registration with Irish higher education institutions, will now be prepared for implementation in September 2023.