Jim Higgins
Ceist:203 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Education the number of second level students who came to this country in 1992 to study English; their native countries; and whether her Department was involved in monitoring the courses.
Written Answers. - Foreign Student Courses.
The information sought by the Deputy is not available in my Department.
The most recent estimated available to my Department indicate that some 100,000 foreign students come to this country to study English annually. The native countries are estimated as follows:
|
Spain |
38,000 |
|
France |
20,000 |
|
Italy |
28,000 |
|
Germany |
10,000 |
|
Rest of World |
4,000 |
A breakdown by age or level of education is not available for those students.
Each year some 100 English Language schools are recognised by my Department for the teaching of English as a foreign language on the recommendation of the Advisory Council for English Language Schools — a body comprising the Departments of Education and Foreign Affairs, Bord Fáilte and representatives of other tourism interests. These schools are inspected by a representative of the Advisory Council.