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Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021

Tuesday, 27 July 2021

Questions (1248, 1262)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

1248. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when the English language regulated industry in Ireland can expect to reopen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39439/21]

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Róisín Shortall

Question:

1262. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans for continued productive engagement with English language students and English language education schools given the ongoing Covid-19 emergency with a view to ensuring that classes will only resume when it is proven safe to do so with the agreement of students and schools; if it will be ensured that supports will remain in place for students and schools until such time as classes can safely resume; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39786/21]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1248 and 1262 together.

Following the publication of COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery: The Path Ahead and in keeping with the Government’s objective of moving to a return to safe onsite provision in higher and further education, extensive planning has been undertaken by the sectoral stakeholders of the Covid-19 Working Group for the English language education (ELE) sector to prepare for the safe resumption of limited, small group, in-person provision to cater for the needs of this sector’s existing cohort of students.

On the basis of these plans and subject to the conditions of the notice published by my Department (link below), in-person activity could begin to resume from 19th July 2021 where it is safe to do so.

When resuming in-person activity, ELE providers should particularly be aware of and take account of the following key factors:

- There is no deterioration in the public health situation nor changes to public health advice/measures that would impact on this activity.

- The resumption of this activity is exclusively to cater for the needs of the existing cohort of ELE students currently in the State.

- This step should be taken in consultation with each provider’s staff and students.

- Subject to conditions, providers may opt to remain closed, to provide blended learning or to continue operating wholly online.

- There continues to be no basis for the recruitment of new international students that may seek to travel to the State at this time.

All existing restrictions and public health guidance with appropriate protective measures and limited congregation will need to be followed, supported by the sectoral reopening protocols and adaptation framework, to facilitate and ensure the safe return to some classroom-based activity for this cohort of students.

The resumption of in-person activity is a key stepping stone on the pathway to recovery for the ELE sector in Ireland. The Department looks forward to continued productive engagement with stakeholders to support the development of further plans which will enable the return of international student recruitment and the full re-opening of the sector in due course.

Further information is available here:

www.gov.ie/en/publication/3b8e5-notice-resumption-of-in-person-provision-for-the-english-language-education-sector/

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