New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS): Ireland announced 100 new scholarships for Indian students in order to encourage their enrollment and double their number in Ireland next year.

The scholarships will include four V.V. Giri scholarships, being given to commemorate the former Indian president who studied in Ireland during 1913-16.

"Education is a very important aspect of India-Ireland relation. It will build strong strategic ties with India, which will boost trade and economic relations," Richard Bruton, Ireland's minister for jobs, enterprise and innovation said Tuesday.

Burton arrived in India Sunday on a five-day visit.

Patrick O'Riordan, Director-India, Enterprise Ireland said the stress was on getting quality students and giving them quality education.

"Our focus is on quality, we are not in the number game. Our aim is to double the number of students in 2014, and increase it to 5000 by 2015," added O'Riordan.

Ireland presently has over 1,000 Indian students.

Irish Ambassador Feilim McLaughlin said the number of visa applications from students showed an increase of 120 percent this year.