Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independent)
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33. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether English language teachers will be crucial to the expected 25% growth of international students in the next four years; his further views on whether these jobs must be quality jobs; and his plans to include minimum employment conditions for English language teachers in the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Amendment) Bill. [31627/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The International Education Strategy for Ireland 2016 – 2020 contains a commitment to increase the number of students in the high quality English language sector by 25% by the end of the 2019/2020 academic year.  A core component of the Government's strategy for achieving this target will be the introduction of the International Education Mark (IEM). 

The IEM will provide a full quality framework for the provision of education to international learners in the future.  The IEM will be managed by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) and only those high quality institutions that meet the robust quality assurance procedures of QQI will be allowed to carry the Mark.  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 necessary legislation to facilitate the introduction of the IEM is being progressed by my Department.  This legislation 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.