Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

164. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of English language colleges operating in each of the last ten years and currently in 2015, by county; and the current number of students in each college. [13567/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Provision of private education, including English language training, is not subject to mandatory regulation in the State. Therefore any person is free to set up a private college of education or an English language school without having to come under the oversight of the Department or any of its agencies. The majority of English language schools in Ireland are privately run and there is a diverse range of English language courses on offer which vary considerably in duration and intensity.

The information sought by the Deputy in relation to the number of English language schools is only available to my Department in respect of those that have gone through a recognised quality assurance process. Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) operates ACELS (Accreditation and Co-ordination of English Language Services), which is a voluntary scheme that grants recognition to English language teaching organisations annually.

Currently there are 98 English language organisations nationwide holding ACELS recognition. The breakdown of these organisations by county is easily accessible on an interactive map available at: . It should be noted that many of these 98 organisations are not sole English language training providers. Some also operate additional seasonal centres for juniors, typically in the summer. Others operate only as seasonal providers during the summer with junior programmes. Some other providers offer a mixed provision of programmes including further and/or higher education programmes in addition to English language courses.

With regard to student numbers, the majority of English language training organisations operate a system of 'rolling enrolment' i.e. students may enrol at regular intervals onto courses, typically every Monday of a new week or per fortnight. Language school enrolments are very often short-term, and because of this, ACELS does not require providers to supply student enrolment numbers. As a result, it is not possible to provide the Deputy with the current number of students in each of these organisations.

The number of recognised English language training organisations which have voluntarily submitted and gained recognition through the ACELS scheme fluctuates annually. However over the last 10 years, QQI estimates that this number has been within a range of 95-120 organisations, comprising approximately 130-160 centres either permanent or temporary nationwide.

There are currently 24 non-ACELS English language training providers listed on the internationalisation register for immigration purposes offering other English language training awards, mainly UK aligned. There may also be other non-ACELS English language training organisations operating domestically which are not on the internationalisation register. Typically, these are regional seasonal operators offering junior courses, who have relationships with other EU schools/agents and don't see a need to gain ACELS recognition.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

165. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the arrangements in place to ensure the bona fides of English language colleges. [13571/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Ireland has a strong reputation for delivery of high-quality English language tuition. Many thousands of students from the EU and around the world come to Ireland for full-time or short-term programmes. The vast majority of providers of English language training in the State operate to a high standard and are motivated by the desire to enable learners to reach their potential. However, it is evident that a minority of providers do not operate to the same standards, with serious implications for students and the reputation of the wider international education sector.

For this reason, I announced robust regulatory reforms to the international education sector together with the Minister for Justice and Equality on 2nd September 2014. These reforms include specific measures to ensure the bona fides of English language colleges.

A key pillar of these reforms is a strengthened and more integrated inspection regime of providers of international education including English language colleges, which entails an enhanced inspection function for the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) and the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) which will be linked to Revenue, the Department of Social Protection and the National Employment Rights Authority.

A new quality assurance process to control entry by English language providers to the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) - the list of eligible programmes for immigration purposes - is being finalised by officials from my Department and the Department of Justice and Equality and will be submitted to Government shortly for approval.

Another key pillar of the regulatory reforms is the International Education Mark (IEM) and related Code of Practice. The IEM was proposed in Ireland's International Education Strategy 2010 - 2015 as a means of enhancing the quality and promotion of international education in Ireland. The IEM confirms that a provider has demonstrated their capacity and commitment to provide a high-quality educational experience to international students. The Code of Practice includes requirements relating to the protection of enrolled learners, treatment of fees and tax compliance, and will also address other 'non-academic' issues such as recruitment, marketing and accommodation. Providers of English language training will have to demonstrate compliance with the Code before being authorised to use the Mark.

The Mark will be used both as a driver of quality assurance within institutions, including English language colleges, and as a marketing tool to underpin the promotional activities of Enterprise Ireland in seeking to attract international learners to Ireland. In addition, the Mark will be used for immigration purposes. From 2016 it will become a requirement that providers wishing to recruit English language students from outside the EEA have authorisation to use the Mark. English language providers authorised to use the Mark will also be subject to ongoing monitoring and review.