Crackdown planned on 'bogus' schools acting as back door for immigration

English language schools and other institutions will have to meet new quality mark criteria laid down by TrustEd Ireland

Higher education minister James Lawless said there are good English language schools in Ireland but that there is anecdotal evidence of bogus operations providing visas to would-be immigrants. Picture: iStock

The Government is planning a crackdown on “bogus” English language schools that are acting as a “convenient backdoor for immigration”, the higher education minister has said.

James Lawless has said while there are good examples of English language schools across the country, some are acting as a “tick box exercise” to allow people to get work permits.