Language Schools
Dail Éireann — 2026-01-27
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Colm Brophy (FG), Dublin South-West

The situation, as I outlined already, is straightforward. People come here to study. They want to study. In facilitating them studying, we also have to look at whether there should be, as there currently is, an option for them to avail of work. It enables them to participate in their studies. How that is managed is important. I would not be in favour of a process where people were effectively working on the side. It has to be the opposite.
I want to see structures in place that ensure that, when students come to this country, their primary purpose is to engage in academic activity or study, be that in the area of English language or one of the various areas of further education. As to whether that should be facilitated by the ability they have at the moment to work for 20 hours per week, I do not think that is precarious working. It is facilitating students to engage in their studies. However, it is equally important that the institutions know and are clearly aware of the fact - the Department conveys this to them all the time - that they must enforce the rules around their students attending their courses and engaging in their studies. That is at the heart of what they are supposed to be doing as academic institutions.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-01-27/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-14T01:01:01+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-01-27