Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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237. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there is a secure measure for advanced payments in relation to the operation of English language schools and the difficulties associated with these in the past; the number of schools operating at present; the accreditation system in place to ensure financial protection for students and ensure quality standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11925/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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In line with the Government decision of 19 May 2015 a series of reforms to the student immigration system for international education are being implemented. These reforms include the restriction of the list of education programmes considered to justify the granting of permission to students to live and work in Ireland (known as the Interim List of Eligible Programmes – the ILEP).

As part of this new process all providers of English language training wishing to recruit non-EEA students are required to apply to the Department of Justice and Equality for inclusion on the ILEP. 

All English language providers seeking inclusion on the ILEP are required to have mandatory protection for enrolled learner policies in place. Providers are also required to operate a separate account facility to safeguard student advance payments.

A listing on the ILEP also requires providers to comply with certain new requirements including declaration of ownership, teacher qualifications, attendance rates, compulsory exam registration policies and maximum class size. 

The ILEP was introduced in January 2016 and is managed by the Department of Justice and Equality in association with my Department. Details on the number of providers currently listed on the ILEP are available on the website of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of the Department of Justice and Equality at the following link: http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/Interim%20List%20of%20Eligible%20Programmes%20-%20ILEP.  The next update to the ILEP is scheduled to take place on 16 March 2017.

The ILEP process is an interim measure until the introduction of the International Education Mark (IEM) for the provision of education to international learners, which will provide a full quality framework in the future. The measures necessary to facilitate the introduction of the IEM are being progressed by my Department.