Language students, who in some cases paid as much as €4,800 to study here, have been left “high and dry” following the sudden closure of an agency offering packages across the country.

Ireland has the worst record in Europe for fraudsters trying to con international students with accommodation scams, EU-funded research shows.

Only 10 inspections have been carried out on English language schools despite promises of closer scrutiny following multiple closures and the disappearance of students’ money.

Revised Government plans to protect foreign students and halt the closure of rogue English-language school operators have been welcomed by student and private college groups.

There is evidence of immigration abuse among a minority writes Niall Murray

Claims by 190 students aimed at recovering €300,000 fees and other costs incurred when they could not complete courses at Eden College after its liquidation were properly disallowed as claims in the liquidation, the Court of Appeal ruled.

A private language school estimated to owe its overseas students up to €500,000 has applied for voluntary liquidation despite proposing, at the time of its shock closure last November, to reopen this week.

Another English language college in Dublin could be facing closure after it informed students via a notice on its door it would not open for the next two weeks due to a "weak financial position".

Another English-language college in Dublin could be on the brink of closure after it informed students it would not open for the next two weeks due to a “weak financial position”.

Parents of up to 80 trainee pilots, who lost up to €80,000 each when a Waterford pilot training college went bust, are livid at how the Government rallied to help out language school students yet left their children high and dry.

Management at primary schools on the northside of Cork City are to meet and thrash out a way of ensuring their survival in the face of falling enrolments.

Hundreds of foreign students left in limbo by English language school closures are to be offered alternative programmes at major discounts by other providers.

An educational quality mark to be in place by the end of the year should ensure below-standard colleges for international students can no longer stay in business, the Dáil has been told.

Student representatives say Government plans to enforce standards in English language schools will not be enough to ease the plight of hundreds of overseas students affected by recent college closures.

Some English language schools have abused their status to act as fronts for people seeking work in Ireland, Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has warned.

Efforts are being made by government departments to help students affected by the closure of a number private international colleges in Dublin.

WHILE Séan Kelly MEP (Letters, October 18) is encouraging Irish higher education institutions to open their doors to international students, it is regrettable that his contribution sends out the wrong message.