Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 June 2025
431. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has plans to intervene or offer supports to dozens of Brazilian students left in limbo following the sudden closure of an agency (details supplied) at the end of May 2025, which mediates between students and schools, colleges, and universities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33256/25]
View answerTravel agencies, such as the one referred to by the Deputy, are privately owned and primarily operate in other jurisdictions. These agencies arrange study and travel options for prospective international higher education (HE) and English language education (ELE) students to many countries including Ireland. These agencies act as intermediaries between prospective students and predominantly private ELE and HE providers, who secure payments for courses and assist students with travel, accommodation, and visa requirements.
As this is principally a private sector activity and a matter of private contract between the parties involved, my Department does not have a role in these matters. There is presently no national regulation of such agencies as many entities of this type are based in other jurisdictions and operate outside of the State. If issues arise with such agencies, these should be reported to the appropriate authorities within the relevant jurisdiction, where there may be routes for those affected to pursue the matter.
It is vitally important for those students who choose to use an agent when travelling to Ireland to study, that they ensure that the agent is reputable and has a relationship in place with their prospective ELE provider.
Education providers in Ireland wishing to recruit non-EEA students are currently required to be listed on the ILEP (the Interim List of Eligible Programmes - the list of education programmes considered to justify the granting of permission to students to live and work in Ireland). The ILEP is managed by the Department of Justice in conjunction with my Department.
A condition of an ILEP listing is a requirement for education providers to operate an 'escrow' type account with a bank or financial institution regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Providers are required to hold funds on behalf of prospective students pending the outcome of their application for a visa. Where the visa decision is positive the funds are transferred to the provider. If the visa application is refused the funds (less any pre-agreed charges) are refunded to the student.
The ILEP regulations concerning international payments holding service or a separate client visa account are not applicable in the case where a student engages the services of an agent and where advanced payment(s) are paid to that agent.
TrustEd Ireland - a new international education quality mark - is a key pillar of the Government’s policy for international education, as set out in Global Citizens 2030: Ireland’s International Talent and Innovation Strategy to 2030. The TrustEd Ireland mark will be awarded by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) to higher education and English language education providers who have demonstrated that they meet national standards to ensure a quality experience for international learners. The new TrustEd Ireland scheme will establish, for the first time, a formal quality assurance process for the English language education sector in Ireland and will provide QQI with statutory powers to regulate this sector.
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, cultural awareness and academic support provisions.
In addition, providers must also demonstrate compliance with an associated Code of Practice. The ELE Code of Practice includes provisions in relation to partnerships with recruitment agents, including adherence to the London Statement - an internationally recognised statement of principles for the ethical recruitment of international students by education agents and consultants. It is also expected that ELE providers perform due diligence, in the form of three reference checks, to verify the track record of prospective education agents, recruitment partners and consultants in relation to learner protection issues, prior to entering into a contractual agreement.
QQI opened the first application window for providers seeking to obtain the TrustEd Ireland mark on 14 October 2024. The assessments of these applications are currently taking place. It is expected that the first cohort of providers will be authorised to use the mark in late 2025. It is anticipated that the second TrustEd Ireland application window will also open in the latter part of this year.
When fully operational, and following a transitionary period, TrustEd Ireland will replace the ILEP for student immigration purposes. This means that providers wishing to recruit non-EU/EEA learners on programmes that require immigration permissions or study visas will be required to apply to QQI for authorisation to use the mark.
