Seán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour)
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129. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of US nationals coming here to study in each of the past three years; his plans to grow this number; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47963/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The United States is a priority market for the promotion of Irish education under the Government's International Education Strategy 2010-2015. Over 8,500 US students studied in Ireland in 2013. The most recent US data from the Institute of International Education, released just yesterday, indicates that Ireland has retained its position as one of the top ten destinations of choice for US "study abroad" students (i.e. students who spent part of their programme studying overseas) with 9% growth, despite very strong international competition. 7,640 US study abroad students chose to do their period of study abroad in Ireland in 2013, compared with 7,007 in 2012 and 6,798 in 2011.

In addition to the study abroad segment, over 1,000 US students came to Ireland on full-time higher education programmes.

Enterprise Ireland has a US market strategy in place, focusing on increasing both undergraduate and postgraduate recruitment. The promotional programme includes the Education in Ireland Student Ambassador initiative, on-line and print marketing, recruitment fairs and other engagement activities, and working with US high schools and universities. These efforts are underpinned by market research, and the national effort is undertaken in close collaboration with individual higher education institutions.