Written answer
Language Schools
Most English-language education providers are privately owned and fall outside the Department of Education and Youth Inspectorate’s remit.
290. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth to clarify if English language schools for foreign nationals are subject to inspection by her Department. [75135/26]
Comment on this
The function of the Inspectorate as set out in the Education Act 1998 is to support and advise recognised schools, centres for education and teachers on matters relating to the provision of education.
The Inspectorate evaluates a range of educational settings. These include state-funded early learning and care (ELC) settings, recognised primary, post-primary and special schools, centres for education, agricultural colleges and other educational settings. A Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) and Department of Education and Youth provides inspectors with the authority to carry out inspections in state-funded centres of education currently operating under the remit of DFHERIS.
The provision of English language education in Ireland is a broad and diverse sector with the vast majority of activity undertaken by privately owned education providers. These providers do not fall under the remit of the Department of Education and Youth’s Inspectorate.