Hayes calls for European Studies Programme funding to be restored to schools

Funding for the cross border European Studies Programme (ESP) has been withdrawn by the Minister for Education in the Stormont Executive, John O’Dowd MLA. The Programme has been funded on a 50:50 basis by the Department of Education, Northern Ireland and the Department of Education and Skills here for nearly 30 years. ESP links 90 post-primary schools north and south through collaborative curriculum-based projects furthering tolerance, mutual understanding and an appreciation of the cultures of others.