Minister Flanagan encourages young people to apply for J1 placements

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr Charles Flanagan, TD, has welcomed the decision by the US authorities, as conveyed by the US State Department to the Embassy of Ireland in Washington, DC, to make available an additional 2,600 J1 placements for Irish participants in the J1 programme in 2017. The J1 options available include a range of opportunities for students and young people to travel to the United States, including camp counsellor positions, the Summer Work and Travel programme, or the Graduate US Visa Programme.

The Minister stated:

“The J1 programme is an important and valued part of Ireland’s bilateral relations with the United States. The Irish Government has been a strong supporter of the programme and, as Minister, I have regularly highlighted its value for young people in Ireland in my bilateral meetings with the US authorities. The J1 programme offers life-changing experiences for so many of our young people and I encourage young people to consider availing of the opportunities it presents. Above all, the J1 scheme continues to enrich the people to people relationship between Ireland and the United States. I am delighted that the US authorities have decided to make an additional 2,600 J1 placements available for Irish participants in the J1 programme for 2017.”

Note for Editors

The J1 programme has been a tremendously successful part of the Irish-US bilateral relationship for almost 50 years, with 150,000 Irish third level students and young people having participated in the programme over that time. The J1 programme offers a suite of more than a dozen options for participants wishing to experience life in the US, while providing opportunities to work while doing so.

ENDS
Press Office
15 February 2017