John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 1163: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she can justify the fees charged to Chinese students at a school (details supplied) while Irish students pay only €120; her plans to make the fee system fairer for Chinese students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25068/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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International education is one of the fastest growing business sectors as students increasingly pursue studies overseas. Throughout the world there is an accelerating demand for English language courses, and it is estimated that by 2020 some 6 million students will be seeking to obtain an international education experience mainly in an English speaking environment. The English language sector currently brings in about 200,000 students annually to Ireland and is estimated to generate of the order of €300 million in foreign earnings.

The report on internationalisation of Irish education services, published in November 2004, sets out recommendations aimed at ensuring that Ireland is well placed to capture a substantial share of this growing international market, based on a reputation for high-quality English language training and higher education provision. The report envisages that a new body, to be called Education Ireland, will be established to co-ordinate and promote developments in this area. Benefits to Irish education institutions and the economy from the presence of overseas students studying in Ireland include significant additional revenues, promotion of understanding and tolerance of other cultures, strengthening of economic, financial and political co-operation with countries all over the world and increased tourism in future years.

Students from outside the EU are admitted to further and higher education and training in Ireland on the basis of paying the economic fee, and the charge to a student from the People's Republic of China in this case is the recommended economic annual fee for post-leaving certificate courses. This approach is consistent with the report on internationalisation of Irish education services, which recommended expanding the number of overseas students in the PLC sector while ensuring full cost recovery from fees charged.