Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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562. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the engagement he has undertaken with English language teachers in relation to plans to replace former regulatory systems for English language teaching schools; if he has received a request to engage with a group (details supplied) on this matter; his plans to carry out consultation on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28122/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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As outlined in Ireland's International Education Strategy Government policy for the international education sector is the International Education Mark (IEM).  The IEM will be managed by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), the national agency with responsibility for external quality assurance and qualifications across the further and higher education sectors.  The development of the IEM and related Code of Practice for the provision of programmes of education and training to international learners was subject to extensive consultation involving all relevant stakeholders in 2013 and 2014 as part of QQI’s comprehensive policy development programme.

Legislative amendments are necessary to facilitate the introduction of the IEM.  These amendments are contained in the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Amendment) Bill.  The General Scheme of the Bill was approved by Government at the Cabinet meeting on 9th May 2017 and has now been referred to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Skills for pre-legislative scrutiny.

My Department has responded to previous correspondence received from the group referred to by the Deputy.