Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

129. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has met with representatives of a group (details supplied) who have requested to meet with him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30402/17]

Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

130. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether the working conditions of English language teachers do not fall under his Department's remit; if so, the reason therefor; the Department under which responsibility for these issues would lie; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30403/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 129 and 130 together.

The majority of English language schools in Ireland are privately run.  The relationship between teachers and private providers of education is based on a private contract, and issues relating to working conditions are a matter between the two parties and do not come under the remit of my Department.  If teachers working in the English language sector have a concern about their terms and conditions of employment they should contact the Workplace Relations Commission which offers a range of services to employees, including mediation, adjudication and inspection.  This has previously been communicated to the group referred to by the Deputy by my Department. 

The regulations governing ACELS (Accreditation and Coordination of English Language Services), which is operated by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) on a voluntary basis, and the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP), which is administered by the Department of Justice and Equality in association with my Department, specify a requirement that all obligations concerning national employment legislation are complied with by education and training providers.

Going forward, Government policy for the international education sector is the International Education Mark (IEM), which will be managed by QQI.  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.  It is the intention that the regulations governing the IEM will include a requirement that all obligations concerning national employment legislation are complied with by education and training providers seeking to access the Mark.  The Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Amendment) Bill will also provide QQI with powers to examine the bona fides of a provider in the round, including English language providers seeking to access the IEM.