Mayo projects received more than €1m in Erasmus+ funding last year
Mayo projects received more than €1 million in Erasmus+ funding in 2025 as European Parliament backs plans to nearly double programme budget
More than 450 Members of the European Parliament have backed plans to expand the Erasmus+ programme, including measures aimed at improving access for young people in rural areas.
Mayo MEP Nina Carberry has welcomed the vote in Strasbourg on Thursday, October 22, which supports increasing the programme’s budget to €47.4 billion for the 2028-2034 period.
Nina Carberry, Ireland’s only MEP on the European Parliament’s Education, Youth and Sport Committee, helped shape the legislation by tabling amendments addressing geographical disadvantage, access for young people in rural communities and support for apprentices.
The vote comes as figures from Léargas show that projects registered in Mayo received more than €1 million in Erasmus+ funding in 2025.
Among the recipients were Mayo College of Further Education and Training, Davitt College in Castlebar, St Gerald’s College, Gaelscoil na gCeithre Maol in Ballina and the West of Ireland initiative Youths Against Rural Disadvantage.
Welcoming the vote, MEP Carberry said the proposals represented a step towards making the programme accessible to more young people and communities.
“Today’s vote is a major step towards opening up what has already been one of the EU’s most successful programmes to even more young people and communities,” she said.
She stressed that Erasmus+ offered opportunities beyond university students travelling abroad, with primary and secondary schools, Education and Training Boards (ETBs) and sports clubs also able to benefit.
With increased funding proposed from 2028, Carberry encouraged education institutions and community organisations to prepare to make use of the opportunities available.
“From developing new language skills to providing training opportunities and work placements abroad in fields ranging from hospitality to engineering, this programme is opening up new career pathways and exciting opportunities,” she said.
The proposed expansion aims to widen participation in international learning, training and development opportunities, including for those living in rural areas.
The European Parliament’s position will now proceed to negotiations with EU governments before the next Erasmus+ budget is finalised.