Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 May 2026
779. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of English language schools removed from the ILEP in the past five years for breaching the rules; the reasons they were removed, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34103/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra780. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the mechanisms currently in place to ensure that all ILEP listed education providers are using escrow accounts for receiving course fees from non-EEA visa applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34104/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra781. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of education providers removed from the ILEP for failing to use an escrow account; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34105/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra782. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether the current oversight arrangements are considered sufficient to ensure compliance with ILEP regulations, in light of reported delays in student refunds [34106/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra783. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether he is satisfied that international students are, in practice, receiving refunds of course fees within expected timeframes under the ILEP following a visa refusal, in light of reported delays in such refunds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34107/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 779, 780, 781, 782 and 783 together.
I can inform the Deputy that the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) sets out the education programmes eligible for student immigration purposes, used as a reference point for the immigration function of my Department in considering visa and residency applications from non-EEA applicants wishing to study on a full-time basis in Ireland.
International students from outside the EU/EEA are granted a student residence permission where they have enrolled on, and commenced a course listed on the ILEP, or eligible programmes offered by providers with authorisation to use the new TrustEd Education mark awarded by the Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI).
The ILEP requirements stipulate that an education providers' policies and procedures for refunds must include provisions for refund arrangements for students. These provisions must specify the maximum time from receipt of a refund request to the issue of a refund.
In the case of a visa refusal or refusal of entry into Ireland, the fees, less any pre-indicated handling charge, must be returned to the student within 20 working days of the request being communicated to the provider. The policy must also set out any circumstances under which the student is not eligible for a refund and the name and contact details for the person(s) responsible for operating the refunds system. Any portion of fees/administrative charges retained by the provider must be advised to the student prior to purchase and must be fair and proportionate. The basis for any such deductions must be advised to the student prior to purchase.
When a student is enrolling with an education provider, they should check the refund policy before paying any fees. Complaints against an education provider should be handled in line with their grievance and complaints policy in the first instance.
My Department monitors compliance and any education provider may be subject to unannounced inspections, on-line monitoring, or random spot checks to ensure its compliance with ILEP criteria.
My Department will investigate when there is evidence that a provider is not acting in line with their published and agreed to policies. Any complaint can be made directly to the ILEP Unit in my Department at internationaleducationproviders@justice.ie
To retain a listing on the ILEP, providers are required to keep within the criteria laid down in the 'Arrangements applying to English Language Programmes, Higher Education Programmes and Foundation Programmes from 1 October 2015 (updated 21 March 2025)' . Any education provider who does not adhere to ILEP criteria, or whose programme(s) no longer meet the criteria, may be removed from the ILEP.
ILEP is currently being superseded by TrustEd Ireland, the international education mark launched in September 2024 by QQI and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. TrustEd Ireland is a new statutory quality mark and part of a suite of legislative measures designed to further protect international learners.
Once the ILEP is discontinued, only education providers which are granted authorisation to use the TrustEd Ireland mark provided by QQI will be eligible to recruit non-EU/EEA students to English language programmes, foundation programmes and higher education programmes leading to awards within the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ).
I can inform the Deputy that a total of 23 English Language schools have been removed from the ILEP since 2018, of which four have been removed for not meeting requirements in relation to Escrow accounts.
Schools have also been removed from the ILEP due to a school's closure, schools not offering ILEP accredited programmes, schools providing false or misleading information, and schools found to be in breach of other ILEP requirements.
