Ireland’s English language sector has been hit once again by the closure of a further two schools bringing total school closures to five in recent weeks and leaving hundreds of students displaced. Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn has set a joint task force to meet on Friday to answer concerns from student protests held this week.

The issuing of visas and residence permissions to international students seeking to enrol at four English language colleges in Ireland has been suspended, following an undercover investigation by The Sunday Times that resulted in claims that some schools are willing to alter official records, allowing students to flout visa regulations.