Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 21 May 2024

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills

Regulation of the English Language Sector: Discussion (Resumed).

Photo of Paul KehoePaul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I have a couple of questions. Our guests from QQI spoke about due diligence and so on. How many inspections or investigations have been carried out in respect of some of these poor operators, rogue or dodgy agencies or whatever we might call them? We will recall that about ten years ago, there was an extensive investigation into English language schools and a number of them closed. In light of the contributions of the witnesses who appeared before this committee last week, it seems those rogue people are starting to raise their heads again. How has that been allowed to happen? What engagement does QQI have with other Departments - Dr. Murray mentioned the Departments of Justice and enterprise - in regard to these agencies? I do not know if he watched the evidence given to the committee last week but some of it was frightening, relating to money having disappeared and so on. I cannot say for certain that is happening but I am going by what we heard last week. Among inspections that have been carried out over the past, say, two years, how many operators have been closed and how many investigations has QQI had ongoing at any one time?