Marketing English in Ireland (English Education Ireland)

Lobbying Organisation Marketing English in Ireland

Date published 22 Sep, 2026

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Education and Training

Period 1 May. 2026 to 31 Aug. 2026

Specific Details Engagement with Government and Oireachtas members on policy and regulatory matters affecting the English Language Education (ELE) sector: the transition from the ILEP interim visa scheme to the TrustEd Ireland quality mark, enforcement of ILEP, study visa processing times, the 4% Learner Protection Fund levy under the HEA Act, and a request for a joint meeting with the Ministers for Further and Higher Education and for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.

Intended results To secure clarity on the visa environment for ELE students after the wind-down of ILEP; effective enforcement of the ILEP list pending TrustEd authorisation; improved study visa processing times; a review of the Learner Protection Fund rate for ELE providers in line with the Grant Thornton recommendation of 2.75%; and a joint ministerial meeting with DFHERIS and the Department of Justice.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Lorcan O'Connor Lloyd, CEO, English Education Ireland

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Informal communication (2-5)

1 May 2026: discussion with Minister Peter Burke and Deputy Barry Ward at a business breakfast in Dun Laoghaire on the ELE sector's economic contribution, the ILEP to TrustEd transition, visa processing and the Learner Protection Fund.

Email (6-10)

7 May: emails to the Taoiseach and Minister Burke setting out the sector's issues. 28 May to 9 June: correspondence with the Ministers' private offices arranging a joint meeting for 10 June (cancelled by both Ministers on 9 June), including the ELE Student Survey. 23 June: reply to the Taoiseach's letter seeking a rescheduled joint meeting. 2 July: email to Deputy Donna McGettigan asking her to raise the rescheduling with Minister Lawless.

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Donna McGettigan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Micheál Martin Taoiseach (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Barry Ward TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Peter Burke Minister (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)

James Lawless Minister (Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science)

Jim O'Callaghan Minister (Department of Justice)