Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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174. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the measures that will be put in place to support students who have lost out substantially on the recent language school closures; the further measures that will be put in place to support teachers who have lost salaries; the implementation process, going forward, to regulate this sector, in order not to damage Ireland's reputation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18726/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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A number of measures have already been put in place to support students who have been affected by the English language school closures. A Task Force to assist students was established in 2014, and the report of the Taskforce was published on 2nd September 2014. On the basis of Marketing English in Ireland's (MEI) involvement with the Task Force, MEI schools have been assisting genuine displaced students in completing their studies by offering alternative courses at a significantly discounted rate.

MEI schools provide an additional support to displaced students in that they have arrangements in place for the protection of learners. Most of the private colleges which have closed did not have such learner protection arrangements in place. Other individual colleges and representative groups, such as the recently formed Private College Network, have also made offers to accommodate impacted students.

A dedicated website has also been established, and this provides useful information to affected students and outlines the range of options available to them. The website continues to be updated regularly.

In relation to the issue of teacher salaries, this is a matter between the teachers and their employer, and my Department has no role in this.

Regarding the regulation process going forward, my Department and the Department of Justice and Equality have produced a package of reforms to the student immigration system for international education which will be brought to Government for its approval shortly. These reforms will drive a restructuring in the sector designed to improve the overall quality of offering to international students, improve protection for learners, enhance Ireland's reputation and diminish negative impacts on the Irish labour market and social protection costs, strongly in line with the goals of Ireland's international education strategy.