Written answers
Tuesday, 14 May 2013
Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
Tourism Ireland Funding
Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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732. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of the Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland budget for promoting English Language schools in Ireland for 2013; the way marketing targets are agreed with the EFL industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22420/13]
Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The matters raised are operational issues for Fáilte Ireland, in the first instance, working together with Tourism Ireland where appropriate. I have referred the Deputy's Question to the agencies for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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733. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if Failte Ireland will fund the MEI workshop in 2013; and the number of meetings that have taken place with Enterprise Ireland to discuss the marketing of Ireland as a centre of excellence in international education. [22421/13]
Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The issues raised in relation to support for MEI are operational matters for Fáilte Ireland in its role of supporting the promotion of English language-learning as a niche tourism product for Ireland (working with Tourism Ireland in specific overseas markets). I have referred the Deputy's Questions to Fáilte Ireland for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
In relation to the marketing of Ireland as a centre of excellence in international education, Enterprise Ireland has overall responsibility for marketing and promotion of the “Education Ireland” brand overseas and leads in the promotion and marketing of international education services other than English language-learning. Matters relating to Enterprise Ireland are the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.
Peter Lawless
Posted on 24 Jul 2013 2:56 pm (Report this comment)
I would respctfully like to thank Richard Boyd Barrett TD for raising this issue and Minister Varadkar for his reponse. I would like to add some further material, as I do not believe that response supplied by the minister will have sufficient impact on a very important sector for Irish Tourism - let me be specific.
The English Language Training sector (ELT) is responsible for between €350-500 Million Euro to Irish Tourism, and as such is counted towards the €5,000 Million Euro that Failte Ireland is reponsible for. Failte Ireland has an annual budget of €147 Million Euro, and a total of €32,000 was "gifted" to MEI last year - with €0 in 2013.
With due respect to the Minister, if the ELT sector was to ask Failte Ireland for their fair share - say 8% of budget, i.e. Circa €10 Million Euro - this would take away from existing activities. I could understand Failte Ireland's reluctance to give the ELT sector its "fair share"
Therefore this debate needs to be held above Failte Ireland and as such the Minsiter for Tourism should have a say over and above Failte Ireland. It could also involve the Department of technology and Skills and also the department of Education and the Department of Justice, since there is a Visa Issue around immigration of non-EU nationals to study in Ireland.
Bottom line - the ELT sector brings in over €350 Million of external investment to the Irish Economy, supports over 4,000 full-time jobs and 8,000 temporary jobs - and needs to be taken seriously at Ministerial level. I would be happy to meet with any member of Government and/or opposition parties to discuss this more fully to protect this hugely valuable source of income to the Irish Economy.
PS - I am biased as I co-own an English Language school.