Government To Put 20 Million Euro into Mitchell Scholarships

Minister O'Keeffe said: "Since 1999, the George Mitchell Scholarship Program has attracted 105 high-calibre students from US universities to study on a wide cross-section of postgraduate courses at universities on the island of Ireland, with a further 12 students due to start their studies in Ireland in the autumn.

"Students have opted for a broad range of courses across the humanities and sciences in the seven universities here and in Queen's University, Belfast, and the University of Ulster.

"As well as the direct financial spin-off benefit to the Irish economy, these students are likely to later occupy positions of influence in the US, whether in politics, business or the professions.

"I'd hope and expect that their study period in this country will create an enduring legacy of goodwill towards Ireland and significantly benefit this country in the future," said Minister O'Keeffe.

He said the Irish Government's intention is to make €20 million available for the prestigious scholarships over the next number of years.

This is on top of the Government's IR£2 million contribution in 1999 when the program was set up.

Since then, the cost of the scholarships has been met using this money, as well as funding from the British government and from private donors through the US-Ireland Alliance - the Virginia-based non-partisan, non-profit group that manages and controls the George Mitchell Scholarship Program.