Government figures suggest about 25,000 student visas were issued for the English-language sector in 2024English-language schools have challenged senior Ministers to provide evidence in support of claims the sector is acting as a visa “back door”. The Government is assessing international student numbers in the English-language sector and developing options to bring the figure down, according to briefings given to senior Ministers in recent weeks. These same briefings outline a belief within the Coalition that a significant number of international students seek student permissions as a “back door” into securing employment and “frequently work more than the hours they are permitted”. “We support strong enforcement where necessary, but we also believe policy and public commentary should reflect evidence and proportionality,” he wrote. According to figures compiled by the industry, it hosts 130,000 international students a year, with 55 per cent of them being under-18s who typically stay one to two weeks.

Source: The Irish Times February 20, 2026 18:01 UTC