Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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429. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of English language schools that were inspected for compliance of the ILEP in each of the years 2016 to 2023, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17393/24]

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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430. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of English language schools that were removed from the ILEP in each of the years 2016 to 2023, in tabular form; the number of these schools that were later readmitted on to the ILEP; and the number of schools that were not readmitted. [17394/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 429 and 430 together.

The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the following table with regard to English language schools listed on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP).

The Deputy may wish to note that providers are removed from the ILEP for a number of reasons: at the request of the provider; where a provider closes or ceases to offer programmes; identified cases of non-compliance with set criteria and requirements. Few providers apply for readmission.

It was necessary to halt inspections of English language schools when the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions were introduced. Other methods of investigating and monitoring compliance were developed which are still used, including spot-checks of compliance and requests for records to gather data to evaluate providers’ compliance with ILEP criteria and immigration requirements.