Wicklow Language School Wins Injunction

A language school in Wicklow has been granted a temporary injunction stopping the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI) from striking it off a register of recognised language colleges.

Mr Justice Paul McDermott said that not to grant the interim restraint could have serious consequences for young students in or on their way to Ireland on visas that could be deemed invalid if the school were immediately to lose official recognition.

Barrister Mary Jo Butler told the High Court that Jacqueline Sababou had traded since 2005 as Language and Business College Ireland at Quinsboro Road Bray.

Ms Butler said the college had always run courses accredited by the Accreditation and Co-ordination of English Language Services, which had recently been taken over by NQAI.

It is understood that NQAI threatened to withdraw recognition of the college because of the late completion and implementation of a development plan for the school.

Judge McDermott said he would grant an interim injunction until Thursday, August 23, as there was going to be serious consequences for innocent parties who should not have been placed in such a situation.

(H)