The overnight closure of Grafton College English language school, just three weeks before Christmas, comes as a terrible shock to hundreds of students and 25 workers, several of whom have been affected by a closure of this type not for the first or second time but for the third. It brings into focus the question of precarious work in the sector, which is worth in excess of €1.5 billion to the economy.

I visited the lunchtime rally today organised by the teachers and their union, Unite. These teachers are determined that their sector will become organised and unionised in order that employers such as this one cannot walk all over their rights. However, they also want to see legislative change. The Qualifications and Quality assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Bill 2018 before the Seanad provides for an international education mark. Will the Government support the amendment, which also calls for a fair employment mark to cut out unethical and even illegal activities on the part of employers in this sector, bogus self-employment, zero-hour contracts and so on? Will it also support the amendment not just for a learner protection fund but also for a teacher protection fund and ensure-----

The Deputy is over time now.

-----that, three weeks before Christmas, these workers get the money they need? They have not been paid for five weeks now.

The Deputy is over time.

They have to buy presents for their kids and pay rent. The Social Insurance Fund should be activated immediately to assist them. Will the Government also support activation of the fund?

On the same matter, I was there last night when the teachers occupied the building for a brief period. They did so out of desperation because they do not know what to do. They have not been paid their wages, which is money owed to them, and the owner has disappeared into the night, leaving them completely high and dry. I was talking to one teacher, whom I know quite well, and this is the third time this has happened to him. Deputies will remember that a number of these schools collapsed not long ago. Protections were supposed to be put in place. While some protections were introduced for students, none was provided for teachers. This is not acceptable. This cannot keep happening-----

Please, Deputy. The point is made.

-----to these highly qualified people. Will the Government fast-track using the Social Insurance Fund, consider a teacher protection fund-----

The Deputy's time is up.

-----and smooth the way to resolving any social welfare difficulties the teachers may have coming into Christmas?

As the Deputies will know, the legislation is a matter for my colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills, Deputy Mitchell O'Connor, who I am sure will be available to answer questions by way of Topical Issue debate or otherwise. My concern is for the students involved and I acknowledge what Deputy Barry said about protections for students. I urge any students who may be affected by this possible closure to contact Marketing English in Ireland, MEI.

We need protections for workers too.

I assure the Deputies that officials from my Department and the Department of Education and Skills are available to see how best this issue can be managed with a view to reassigning students to other language schools or considering the matter of the learner protection insurance and a refund of fees already paid.