Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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216. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason for issuing a circular (details supplied) instructing face-to-face learning in international language schools; if ELE industry specific risks were taken into consideration when issuing the circular; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31809/20]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The letters of 25 September 2020, and 10 October 2020, aligned the position of my Department with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS), who are the lead Department on policy matters relating to English Language Education (ELE) providers, including in relation to public health advice applying to the sector. 

DFHERIS has previously confirmed that ELE providers should only reopen their classroom settings where they are satisfied that they have put appropriate arrangements in place consistent with appropriate national guidelines to ensure it is safe to do so in terms of their responsibilities to staff and their duty of care to students.

A further letter issued from the Immigration Service of my Department yesterday, 20 October 2020, informing ELE providers to immediately move online, with appropriate protective measures in place for any essential attendance on site. This is an exceptional, short term and temporary measure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Once restrictions return to Level 3 or lower in the provider’s location then the standard Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) criteria of in-person tuition will reapply.  

Students are required to enrol and ‘virtually’ attend in the same way as if they were physically present in the classroom. There is no change to the hours a student may work and the standard ILEP criteria remain.

The Government’s Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021 Plan for Living with COVID-19 sets out the Framework for Restrictive Measures in Response to COVID-19 for adult education, which includes ELE, as Move online - On-site attendance only when essential at Level 4 and Recommendations based on situation and evidence at Level 5. 

The framework was complemented by the Government’s announcement this week that, while schools remain open, higher and adult education providers should move to primarily online with exceptions only for essential activities. 

These measures are in place to facilitate students to continue their education through the provision of online learning and only apply to students already resident in the State and who are eligible to register on a Stamp 2 permission. Prospective students seeking to enter the State should wait until in-person tuition has been resumed.

The Immigration Service's online registration renewal system remains available to Dublin residents and students are required to re-register as usual. Outside Dublin, students should check with their local registration office.