Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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214. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of ACELS-MEI schools that were inspected by staff from the Department of Justice and Equality and his Department during the ILEP application process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3018/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) is a list of education programmes considered to justify the granting of permission to students to live and work in Ireland.  The ILEP is operated and maintained by the Department of Justice and Equality.  The first full iteration of the ILEP was published by that Department on 20^thJanuary 2016 and the ILEP continues to be updated at regular intervals.

As part of the ILEP process, 16 English language providers were inspected in 2015.  Of these, 9 providers held recognition from ACELS (Accreditation and Coordination of English Language Services) and MEI (Marketing English in Ireland). 

In 2016 10 providers were inspected, 6 of which were ACELS/MEI recognised schools.

Providers continue to be subject to unannounced inspections, spot checks and other monitoring of compliance as part of the ILEP process.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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215. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of inspections ACELS-QQI carry out annually on members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3019/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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ACELS (the Accreditation and Coordination of English Language Services) is a voluntary national scheme responsible for the recognition and inspection of English language schools.  It is administered by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI).  ACELS has been closed for new applications since January 2014, and it continues to operate on a voluntary, contractual basis for existing members.

Under the terms of the current regulations governing the operation of this scheme inspections of ACELS recognised English language schools take place when:

1. There is a change of ownership of the English language school

2. A new general or academic manager(s) is appointed

3. There is a change of premises, or an additional premises is added to the school

4. There is a complaint against the school

Therefore the number of inspections per annum is contingent on the number of incidents of the above.  11 inspections were conducted by ACELS in 2014; 35 inspections were conducted in 2015 and 28 inspections were conducted in 2016.