I have taken note of the Recommendations of the National Competitiveness Council in relation to the development of a policy framework for attracting foreign students to Ireland. In this area, my Department established an interdepartmental group some time ago with the remit of considering the most effective way of promoting Ireland as a centre of educational excellence for international students and for the promotion of Irish education abroad. The group's Report on the Internationalisation of Education Services was published following approval by Government.
The Recommendations of the Report include the establishment, on a statutory basis, of a new body to be called ‘Education Ireland' whose main objective will be to promote Ireland as a centre of excellence for international education. Preparations are well advanced to establish Education Ireland in the first instance as a company, with draft legislation also being prepared to establish Education Ireland on a statutory basis in the course of 2008.
