Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 February 2012
68 Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students who come to Ireland each year to study English; the number who came from China, Taiwan, Singapore, South Korea and Japan in 2011; the visa requirements such as educational qualifications; the maximum and minimum period of stay permitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7090/12]
View answerAccording to the annual survey of approved language schools carried out by Fáilte Ireland, an estimated 96,250 overseas English language students studied in Ireland in 2010. Figures are not yet available for 2011. The following number of English language students studied in Ireland in 2010 (or 2009, where current figures are not available): Japan: 2,000; South Korea: 3,100; China: 2,098 (2009 figures); Taiwan: 89 (2009 figures).
English is one of the official languages of Singapore, and is the primary language of instruction in the education system, so there is no major market for English language instruction there. Visa regulations are a matter for the Minister for Justice and Equality. Student visa requirements for English language students are, however, set out on the website of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service www.inis.gov.ie.
