Teaching English could earn Ireland £465m

The Minister of State with responsibility for international trade, Mr Tom Kitt, has said teaching English as a foreign language in Ireland is worth approximately £270 million to the State annually.

"This has the potential to grow to £465 million by 2006 provided certain steps are taken," he said.

The Minister was speaking yesterday after the publication of a strategic analysis of the industry.

It was carried out by the Prospectus Strategy Consultants company, for Enterprise Ireland, and recommended setting up a steering group under the aegis of MEI-RELSA, the industry representative group, to oversee the internationalisation of the sector.

"This strategy document marks the first step for the industry en route to achieving the vision of a truly global, fast-growing export-led industry," he said. There were many medium-term issues to be resolved but he had no doubt the new steering group would address them as a priority.

He noted that recently a number of Teaching English as Foreign Language (TEFL) enterprises had taken part in successful trade missions to China, Japan and Russia. "I would expect to see a greater level of such activity into the future as the industry implements a strategy to further internationalise its business," he said.