Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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273. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to his comments (details supplied) in relation to courses where there would be two students present and a class of 100 on the roll and his comments that some English language schools are acting as tick box exercise to allow people to get work permits; the actions he is taking to ensure enforcement of regulations in the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29006/26]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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A new international education quality mark, TrustEd Ireland, is being introduced by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), an agency under the remit of my Department.

The TrustEd Ireland mark will be awarded to higher education and English language education providers who have demonstrated that they meet new national standards to ensure a quality experience for international learners.

The new TrustEd Ireland scheme establishes, for the first time, a formal statutory quality assurance process for the English language education sector in Ireland.

To obtain the mark, English language providers must undergo a due diligence assessment process which examines the capacity and capability of private education providers to deliver quality assured education programmes. English language providers must also participate in the new statutory Learner Protection Fund.

In addition, providers must also demonstrate compliance with an associated Code of Practice. The Code includes key criteria surrounding information provision, student welfare, and academic support provisions. English language providers are required to undergo a site inspection as part of their assessment of Code compliance.

All English language providers holding the mark are subject to a review at least once every three years. Providers must also submit a monitoring report every 18 months. QQI may withdraw a provider’s authorisation to use the mark where it considers that the provider no longer complies with the Code.

An announcement of the first group of 28 higher education institutions to be awarded the TrustEd Ireland statutory quality mark was made on 4th February 2026. Assessment is ongoing of the first window of TrustEd applications from English language providers, which is expected to be completed in the coming months.

The Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration will continue to monitor learner compliance with immigration law. Monitoring activities can include inspections of providers at any time, including monitoring attendance requirements.