Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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988. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills given the current student accommodation crisis, if his Department will begin the process of collating data on the numbers of students studying English language courses in the State, regardless of the fact the majority of these students are studying in privately owned providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52043/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware, further to Parliamentary Question No. 985 of 17 June 2025, that TrustEd Ireland – a new international education quality mark – is being introduced by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI). As part of the application process for authorisation to use the TrustEd Ireland mark, education institutions are required to submit information on the number of students enrolled on English language education programmes to QQI. There are currently no plans for my Department to collate this data directly.

To obtain the TrustEd Ireland mark providers will have to demonstrate compliance with requirements on corporate fitness, quality assurance and the protection of enrolled learners, alongside key criteria and practices surrounding the recruitment and admission of international students, information provision, student welfare and academic support provisions.

In addition, providers must also demonstrate compliance with an associated Code of Practice. The Code of Practice for the provision of English language education programmes to international learners includes requirements in relation to accommodation services. The Code specifies that clear, accurate, transparent, accessible and up to date information on the availability of accommodation, whether provided by an English language education provider or not, should be made available to learners and other relevant stakeholders, prior to a learner’s enrolment on an education programme.