17/07/2019

FG Call For Erasmus Scheme To Be Extended To Older People

Fine Gael has called for the Erasmus programme to be extended to older people.

Fine Gael's spokesperson on European Affairs, Neale Richmond, made the call as European Commission President nominee, Ursula Von der Leyen committed to triple the Erasmus budget.

Deputy Richmond said: "Former European Commissioner, Peter Sutherland, established the Erasmus programme in 1987 as a student exchange programme.

"In 2014 the remit was widened to include all the EU's current schemes for education, training, youth and sport in 2014 with a budget of €14.7 billion under Erasmus Plus.

"More than four million people have participated in Erasmus and Erasmus Plus programmes covering original student exchanges as well as youth and staff exchanges.

"With the extremely welcome remarks by Ursula Von der Leyen that she intends to triple the Erasmus budget in the next European budget beginning in 2020, there is a scope now to further widen the programme.

"As people look to planning their life post-retirement there is huge potential for opening-up Erasmus Plus for older people.

"Such a move could foster much greater inter-generational solidarity as well as giving older persons the opportunity to spend more time in other European countries participating in civic, social or educational programmes.

"Erasmus should be for all Europeans regardless of their age."

Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

13 May 2014
Erasmus+ Scheme Announced
Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn has announced the launch of a new European scheme that will give over 30,000 Irish students, apprenticeships and volunteers, along with 8,000 teachers, trainers, education staff and youth workers, the chance to spend time studying, training or working in European countries.
07 July 2011
Minister Publishes First Review Of Water Programme
The first review of the Water Services Investment Programme 2010-2012 has been announced. The €350m investment in 2011 alone, will fund over 100 contracts currently under construction and will see the commencement of over 60 more.
25 February 2014
European Parliament Endorse Anti-Poverty Programme
A proposed Europen anti-poverty programme, negotiated with the European Commission and the Member States by Dublin Labour MEP Emer Costello, has been "overwhelmingly" endorsed by the European Parliament.
06 December 2011
Tesco 'Creates Irish Jobs'
As part of a €120 million investment programme in Ireland, Tesco Ireland has this week unveiled their new Kildare store creating over 130 new jobs. This follows on from the recent opening of the new Cabra and Rush stores, as well as the Northcott Centre in the north of the province.