George Mitchell Scholarship Fund Act, 1998

What is this act about?

This law establishes the George Mitchell Scholarship Fund in the United States to provide scholarships for US citizens to study or conduct research in Ireland or Northern Ireland.

Who it applies to: The Minister for Education and Science; Citizens and nationals of the United States attending universities or colleges of higher learning in the United States.

At a glance

Country: Ireland
Area of law: Education law
Articles: 7
Source: irishstatutebook.ie
Text retrieved: 2026-06-17
Explanation updated: 2026-07-07

What does this act regulate?

The establishment and management of the George Mitchell Scholarship Fund.
The provision of scholarships for US citizens to study or research in specific higher education institutions in the State or Northern Ireland.
Payments by the Minister for Education and Science into the Fund, including initial funding and accepted gifts.
The acceptance and disposal of gifts of money, land, or other property for the benefit of the Fund.

Who does this act apply to?

The Minister for Education and Science.
Citizens and nationals of the United States attending universities or colleges of higher learning in the United States.

What are the key points?

The Minister for Education and Science shall establish the George Mitchell Scholarship Fund in the United States.
The Fund will provide scholarships to US citizens with a high level of academic achievement to study or carry out research in specified institutions in the State or Northern Ireland.
The Minister shall pay £2,000,000 into the Fund from moneys provided by the Oireachtas.
The Minister may accept gifts of money, land, or other property for the benefit of the Fund, with the consent of the Minister for Finance.

Education law

Local Authorities (Education Scholarships) Act, 1944

Local Authorities (Education Scholarships) (Amendment) Act, 1961

Irish Sign Language Act 2017

Youth Work Act, 1997

Vocational Education (Amendment) Act, 1950

Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004

Electoral (Amendment) Act 2015

Education (Provision in Respect of Children with Special Needs) Act 2022

Education law

Legal text

Contents (7)

Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4
Section 5
Section 6
Section 7

George Mitchell Scholarship Fund Act, 1998.

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George Mitchell Scholarship Fund Act, 1998.

Permanent Page URL View by SectionAmharc de réir Ailt View Full ActAmharc ar an Acht Iomlán Bill History Stair Bille Commencement, Amendments, SIs made under the Act Tosach Feidhme, Leasuithe, IRí arna ndéanamh faoin Acht Open PDFOscail PDF Print Full ActPriontáil an tAcht Iomlán Number 50 of 1998 GEORGE MITCHELL SCHOLARSHIP FUND ACT, 1998 ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS Section

Section 1

Definitions.

Section 2

George Mitchell Scholarship Fund.

Section 3

Payments by Minister into Fund.

Section 4

Gifts.

Section 5

Annual report and accounts.

Section 6

Expenses of Minister.

Section 7

Short title.

Acts Referred to Regional Technical Colleges Act, 1992 1992, No. 16 Universities Act, 1997 1997, No. 24 Number 50 of 1998 GEORGE MITCHELL SCHOLARSHIP FUND ACT, 1998 AN ACT TO ENABLE THE MINISTER FOR EDUCATION AND SCIENCE TO ESTABLISH A FUND IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO BE KNOWN AS THE GEORGE MITCHELL SCHOLARSHIP FUND TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS TO CITIZENS AND NATIONALS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ATTENDING UNIVERSITIES OR COLLEGES OF HIGHER LEARNING IN THE UNITED STATES TO STUDY OR CARRY OUT RESEARCH IN THE STATE OR NORTHERN IRELAND IN UNIVERSITIES OR OTHER INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION, TO GIVE EFFECT TO AN AGREEMENT IN THAT BEHALF BETWEEN THE MINISTER AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EDUCATION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS. [23rd December, 1998] BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:

Definitions.

1.—In this Act— “the Fund” means the George Mitchell Scholarship Fund; “the Minister” means the Minister for Education and Science; “the United States” means the United States of America.

George Mitchell Scholarship Fund.

2.—(1) The Minister shall duly establish, in the United States, a fund which shall be known as the George Mitchell Scholarship Fund, and is in this Act referred to as “the Fund”, to provide scholarships to citizens and nationals of the United States, attending, as students or research scholars with a high level of academic achievement, universities or colleges of higher learning in the United States, to enable those persons to study or carry out research— (a) in the State, at— (i) a university or college to which the Universities Act, 1997 , applies, (ii) the Dublin Institute of Technology, (iii) an educational institution to which the Regional Technical Colleges Act, 1992 , applies, or (iv) the Irish School of Ecumenics, situated, for the time being, at Milltown in the city of Dublin, or (b) in Northern Ireland, at such a university or other institution of higher education as the Minister may, with the consent of such university or other institution and any other relevant competent authority, specify.

(2)The Fund shall be managed and controlled, in the United States, by such person or persons (other than the Minister) as the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, considers appropriate and, from time to time, appoints, and different persons may be so appointed to manage and control the Fund in different capacities.

(3)The Minister shall make, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, an agreement, with such person or persons, as the Minister considers appropriate, in respect of the management and control of the Fund, and such an agreement shall provide, as may be appropriate, for all of the following: (a) any relevant matters relating to the control and management of the Fund, (b) accounts of the Fund and, in particular, an investment account, (c) areas of study and research for which scholarships may be awarded under the Fund, (d) criteria as to the academic standard required of a candidate to be awarded a scholarship under the Fund, (e) disbursements from the Fund, (f) the law to be applied, in the event of any dispute between the parties to the agreement, and (g) any other matter the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, considers relevant to give effect to the operation of the Fund, and may specify the universities or colleges of higher learning in the United States or class or classes of such universities or colleges from which a candidate may or may not apply for a scholarship provided under the Fund.

(4)The Minister shall cause a copy of any agreement made by him or her, in respect of the management and control of the Fund, to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas.

Payments by Minister into Fund.

3.—(1) The Minister shall pay into the Fund, out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas, the sum of £2,000,000.

(2)The Minister shall pay into the Fund— (a) the amount of any gift of moneys accepted by him or her under section 4 of this Act, or (b) the proceeds of the sale or other such disposal of any gift of land or other property accepted by him or her under that section which is sold or otherwise disposed of thereunder.

Gifts.

4.—(1) The Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, may accept a gift of moneys, the purpose of the making of which is to benefit the Fund, upon such trusts and conditions (if any) as may be specified by the donor.

(2)The Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, may accept a gift of land or other property, the purpose of the making of which is to enable the State to realise its value for the benefit of the Fund, upon such trusts and conditions (if any) as may be specified by the donor.

(3)The Minister shall not accept a gift of moneys, land or other property if the trusts or conditions attached to it would be inconsistent with the functions of the Minister, or the Minister for Finance, under this Act.

(4)The Minister, in such manner as he or she, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, determines, shall sell or otherwise dispose of any land or other property a gift of which has been accepted under this section.

(5)Nothing in this section shall prejudice any power which, apart from under this section, the Minister has to accept a gift of moneys, land or other property.

Annual report and accounts.

5.—(1) The Minister shall annually prepare a report with respect to the operation of the Fund during the previous 12 months and shall cause a copy of the report to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas.

(2)The Minister shall cause a copy of an abstract of any audited accounts of the Fund together with a copy of any auditor's report thereon to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas.

Expenses of Minister.

6.—The expenses incurred by the Minister in the administration of this Act shall, to such extent as may be sanctioned by the Minister for Finance, be paid out of moneys provided for by the Oireachtas.

Short title.

7.—This Act may be cited as the George Mitchell Scholarship Fund Act, 1998.

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