Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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244. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 431 of 19 June 2025, if he will provide supplementary information in relation to highlighted matters (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34577/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to clarify for the Deputy that the private sector activity referred to in the answer given to Parliamentary Question No. 431 of 19 June 2025 refers to the activity of international students using travel agents operating outside of the State to help them organise study, accommodation and travel arrangements to come and study in Ireland.

These agencies act as intermediaries between prospective students and predominantly private higher education and English language education providers. This activity occurs in other jurisdictions and therefore these agencies are not subject to national regulation. Any contracts entered into between international students and such agencies do not come under the remit of my Department. It is crucial for international students choosing to use travel agencies to ensure that they choose reputable and trustworthy agents with a proven track record.

The Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP), operated by the Department of Justice, in conjunction with my Department, establishes criteria and requirements for education providers in Ireland to accept non-EU/EEA students that require immigration permissions into the State. It is a mandatory ILEP requirement for providers to have learner protection arrangements in place. These include a requirement for education providers to operate an 'escrow' type account with a bank or financial institution regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland to safeguard funds on behalf of prospective students pending the outcome of their application for a visa.

As outlined previously, Ireland’s English language education sector is undergoing stronger regulation with the introduction of the TrustEd Ireland quality mark. The TrustEd Ireland scheme is underpinned by new statutory Codes of Practice, which include provisions in relation to partnerships with recruitment agents and ethical marketing. Further information on these provisions is available at: www.qqi.ie/sites/default/files/2023-10/iem-02-ele-code-of-practice-october-2023.pdf.