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English Language Training Organisations

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 March 2021

Wednesday, 10 March 2021

Questions (671, 672, 684)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

671. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to concerns raised by a group (details supplied) in relation to English language education here; the supports that have been made available to the group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12865/21]

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Michael Moynihan

Question:

672. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if specific supports will be introduced to assist the English language sector in Ireland considering that this sector is wholly dependent on international travel and has no domestic demand to depend on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12898/21]

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Róisín Shortall

Question:

684. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps his Department is taking to support language schools given the dependence of the industry on international tourism for the uptake of classes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13477/21]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 671, 672 and 684 together.

English language education (ELE) in Ireland is a broad and diverse sector with the vast majority of activity undertaken by private sector providers. I am aware of the important contribution made by this sector and of the challenges that are being encountered given the substantial impact that the Covid-19 outbreak has had on students, teachers and providers.

As part of the response to the pandemic, my Department established a specific Working Group for this sector. This group is comprised of representatives of relevant Government Departments and sectorial representatives of staff, students and providers.

As part of this process, the representative bodies for English language education providers have engaged with the Working Group surrounding their proposals for supports to aid the recovery of this sector. In this forum, the providers have been advised of the measures introduced by Government, as part of the wider Covid-19 response, to support businesses at this time. These measures included the temporary wages subsidy scheme (TWSS) to facilitate employers to keep employees on the payroll during the initial period of the Covid-19 pandemic in order to retain this link for when business increases after the crisis. This temporary scheme was expected to be in place for an initial 12-week period. However, recognising the circumstances surrounding the re-opening of the economy as well as the need to avoid the risk of forcing otherwise viable firms to close, the Government agreed that the TWSS would remain in place until the end of August 2020. Following the conclusion of the TWSS, it has been superseded by the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) which continues to provide payroll support to businesses. In addition to the subsidy that is being provided via the EWSS, this scheme also provides for a reduction in Employers PRSI.

Further to the above, the ELE provider representatives have been advised of the eligibility of businesses in this sector to apply, where appropriate, for further business supports made available by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment via Enterprise Ireland and through its network of Local Enterprise Offices. A full list of these supports and related information is available for providers here: https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Supports-for-SMEs/COVID-19-supports/.

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