Tony Killeen
Question:93 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the value of TEFL courses to Irish tourism annually; the plans, if any, he has to expand this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9463/97]
Vol. 477 No. 4
93 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the value of TEFL courses to Irish tourism annually; the plans, if any, he has to expand this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9463/97]
I am assuming that the Deputy's question refers to the value to Irish tourism of overseas students who come here specifically to study English as a foreign language.
Bord Fáilte estimate that some 113,000 English language students, aged 16 years and over visited Ireland in 1996. This represents an increase of 9,000 or 9 per cent on 1995. Bord Fáilte also estimate that this sector contributed over £113 million to Irish tourism last year and that further growth is expected in 1997.
The importance of this sector to the tourism market has long been recognised, most recently in the Operational Programme for Tourism, 1994-99, in which specific provision was made for investment in additional language learning facilities as well as for co-operative marketing of Ireland internationally as a centre for learning English.