Brexit: Irish government gives NI students €2m mobility funding

The funding will be available for as long as needed, the Irish government said

The Irish government has allocated €2m (£1.7m) to support Northern Ireland students to "avail of mobilities and internships across Europe".

The funds will be made available to students studying in higher education institutions in Northern Ireland.

The Irish government said it was a permanent commitment for as long as the option is needed or an alternative model emerges.

Post-Brexit, the UK set up The Turing Scheme to replace Erasmus.

The EU scheme had enabled thousands of Northern Ireland students and staff to spend time abroad studying or on a work placement.

Funding for Northern Ireland students to participate in Erasmus came to an end in 2023.

Minister Simon Harris said in meetings with university vice chancellors the loss of access to Erasmus "was constantly being raised".

He said the Irish government commitment "is not just about learning in a partner university - it is also about building relationships with other students, and increasing cultural awareness and understanding".

"Many students in Northern Ireland choose to pursue internships in Ireland in key employment sectors such as financial services and technology.

"This experience is vital, and aligns skills development with the island economy."

'Investment in relationships'

The minister's department said it will finalise arrangements with higher education institutions in Northern Ireland over the coming weeks to ensure supports would be available for the upcoming academic year.

It added that 200 nursing and midwifery places were being made available to students from the Republic of Ireland at Northern Ireland universities to be funded by the Irish Department of Health.

There will also be 50 places open to therapy disciplines in Ulster University, including 20 places in occupational therapy and physiotherapy, and 10 places in speech and language therapy.

Mr Harris said the announcements represent "an investment in relationships between institutions north and south".

"It is an investment in our island's next generation, and I think it's a really practical sensible way of continuing to cooperate post-Brexit."