The Government is planning a crackdown on “bogus” English language schools that are acting as a “convenient backdoor for immigration”, the higher education minister has said. James Lawless has said while there are good examples of English language schools across the country, some are acting as a “tick box exercise” to allow people to get work permits. “The quality mark, I suppose, will weed out any providers that are substandard or maybe gaming the system,” he said. It will be rolled out for all colleges and universities which take in international students, Mr Lawless added. Mr Lawless said the levy paid will go back into the higher education sector, being collected against a percentage of student intake.

Source: Irish Examiner December 30, 2025 01:12 UTC