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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 10 Feb 1998

Vol. 486 No. 6

Written Answers. - Language Schools.

Eamon Gilmore

Ceist:

334 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science the inspections, if any, which are carried out by his Department of schools which have been given recognition to teach English as a foreign language so as to ensure that these schools are fulfilling the conditions of recognition. [3273/98]

Schools are inspected by inspectors appointed by the ACELS, Advisory Council of English Language Schools, on which the Departments of Education and Science, Justice, Equality and Law Reform and Foreign Affairs are represented.

All new schools are inspected in two consecutive years. If, after the second inspection, the school is found to be satisfactory, the ACELS will recommend its recognition to the Department of Education and Science.

Existing schools are inspected at the discretion of the council and at least once within a three year period. The Department of Education and Science grants recognition on an annual basis and a recognised school must therefore renew its application annually.

Eamon Gilmore

Ceist:

335 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science the requirements, if any, which are necessary for a school to be recognised by his Department to teach English as a foreign language; the procedures adopted in considering an application for recognition; and the amount of time this process normally takes. [3274/98]

The requirements governing the recognition of schools by the Department of Education and Science for the teaching of English as a foreign language are being forwarded to the Deputy. They cover: school premises; content of courses; appropriateness of courses to level and age of students; desirability of courses adequately reflecting Irish life and culture; need to include a schedule of supervised activities for students under 16; compliance with ACELS criteria for the management, staffing and organisation of the school —set out in the schedule of minimum standards; training and induction of teachers; teacher qualifications; provision of library facilities; and accommodation of students in host families.

Applications for recognition must be submitted on the official application form by 30 April of the year in question. A non-refundable fee of £130 must accompany each application. Applications are processed by the ACELS secretariat. They are considered at a meeting of the council, the inspection process takes place, the list is ratified at a council meeting, the list is then submitted to the Department of Education and Science and schools are notified. Given that ten months have to elapse between the two inspections needed for the recognition of a new school, the whole process from application to sanction can take 18 months. In the case of existing schools which seek recognition of a second or third centre, the process takes only a few months.

Eamon Gilmore

Ceist:

336 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will list the schools which have been given recognition by his Department to teach English as a foreign language; and when recognition was granted in each case. [3275/98]

There are at present 122 schools recognised for the teaching of English as a foreign language. They are spread over 19 counties.

I am arranging for a complete list of the schools and the Board Fáilte document: "Ireland: Learning English in Ireland, 1998" to be forwarded to the Deputy.

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