English Education Ireland is deeply concerned by the cases highlighted in today’s RTÉ report. It is important to note that the schools named in the article are not members of English Education Ireland, and this situation is not representative of the standards upheld by our members. The vast majority of providers in this sector operate to high standards, hold student fees correctly, and process refunds promptly.
However, the situation raises serious questions that must be addressed. Earlier this year, EEI wrote to the Minister for Justice seeking clarity on the number of compliance inspections carried out in the English language education sector over the past five years, the nature of any non-compliance identified, and whether the Department considered any findings to be systemic. We have yet to receive a satisfactory response. Today’s report makes those questions more urgent, not less.
The ILEP rules governing escrow arrangements are clear and have recently been strengthened. Providers are required to hold advance fee payments in a regulated account, and failure to comply carries the explicit sanction of removal from the ILEP. That sanction exists. The question is why it is not being applied.
A Department of Justice reminder email is not enforcement. Where providers are demonstrably failing to meet their escrow obligations, the Department has the power to act and should do so without delay.
English Education Ireland welcomes the regulation of the English language education sector and looks forward to the full implementation of TrustEd Ireland. TrustEd has a statutory footing and that is to be welcomed. But questions remain as to how compliance will be monitored and policed once TrustEd is fully established. Statutory powers are only meaningful if they are used. We would urge Government to set out clearly how enforcement will operate under the new regime before the ILEP is wound down.
There is also a student welfare issue that deserves attention. Lengthy visa processing times mean that students from developing countries can have significant sums of money locked in escrow for months on end, with no certainty about the outcome of their application. That is not a fair position to put prospective students in. Ireland’s reputation as a welcoming destination depends on treating prospective students with fairness and transparency from the very first interaction.
