4079. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to consider the development of a youth exchange scheme with Canada allowing young people and second level schools to engage in such exchanges; and if he would make a statement on the matter. [59729/26]

I recognise the value of international exchange opportunities in fostering educational, cultural and research links between countries, including between Ireland and Canada. A number of programmes supported by my Department currently facilitate mobility, research collaboration and academic exchange between the two countries.

My Department funds a bilateral initiative with the Government of Canada, the De Chastelain Scholarship Programme, which supports academic exchange and research collaboration between Ireland and Canada. The programme provides funding for research visits of three to six weeks by Irish researchers to Canadian universities and by Canadian researchers to universities across the island of Ireland.

Following the publication of the Joint Statement on Advancing the Canada-Ireland Partnership (Dublin, 13 June 2026), work is underway across Government to develop an Action Plan to deliver the agreed commitments, including strengthening collaboration between Ireland and Canada in higher education, research and innovation. Within my Department, we are leading on three commitments under the Research, Innovation and Talent pillar.

A range of opportunities already exists to support mobility and collaboration between Ireland and Canada in higher education and research. It is possible for higher education students to study in Canada through Erasmus+, although these opportunities are relatively limited and depend on specific international partnerships between European and Canadian institutions. Where available, students can undertake a period of study at a Canadian partner university while earning credits towards their degree at their home institution, supported by Erasmus+ funding for travel and living costs.

Postgraduate students may also benefit from collaboration opportunities arising from initiatives such as the Ireland-Alberta Strategic Partnership Programme for Impact in Education, Research and Innovation, which supports partnership development between Irish and Albertan higher education institutions, including postgraduate mobility.

Separately, the Higher Education Authority has recently launched a partnership with Mitacs, a Canadian not-for-profit organisation that supports research and innovation collaboration. Through the Mitacs Globalink Research Internship programme, undergraduate students at eligible Irish higher education institutions can undertake 12-week research internships at Canadian universities across a wide range of disciplines, gaining valuable international research experience.

My Department also has responsibility for Erasmus+ and for Léargas, the National Agency for Erasmus+ in the fields of Adult Education, School Education, Vocational Education and Training, Youth and Sport.

KA1 mobility opportunities are available to third countries not associated to the Programme, including Canada, for accredited (KA120) Vocational Education and Training (VET) organisations. Such opportunities are not currently available in the Schools or Adult Education sectors. In the Youth sector, cooperation with certain third countries not associated to the Programme is possible only where those countries are located in neighbouring regions 1 to 4. As Canada is a Region 12 country, Youth Exchanges with Canada are not eligible under the current programme rules.

Accordingly, while limited Erasmus+ mobility opportunities involving Canada exist in Higher Education and Vocational Education and Training, no equivalent Erasmus+ mechanism currently exists for School Education, Adult Education or Youth Exchanges with Canada.

VET

Up to a maximum of 20% of the allocated budget of an accredited VET organisation may be used for activities in third countries not associated to the Programme. These opportunities are only available for certain types of VET activities, namely short-term learning mobility of VET learners, long-term learner mobility of VET learners, participation in VET skills competitions, staff job shadowing, and staff teaching or training assignments. Group mobility of VET learners and VET staff courses and training are not eligible to take place in third countries not associated to the Programme, such as Canada.

Youth

For Youth Exchanges (KA152), the eligibility rules provide for participation by certain third countries not associated to the Programme, specifically those located in neighbouring regions 1 to 4. Canada is categorised as a Region 12 country. Therefore, while some Youth Exchanges may involve third countries not associated to the Programme, Youth Exchanges with Canada are not eligible under the current Erasmus+ programme framework.