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Fears for English language school in Dublin

Students and teachers are concerned for the future of Leinster College
Students and teachers are concerned for the future of Leinster College

Students and teachers at an English language school in Dublin have expressed fears about its future.

A notice has been posted on the door of Leinster College on Harcourt Street.

It reads: "College will be closed from 28/10/14 till 07/11/14 due to weak financial situation.

"Further information will be uploaded in our website by next Friday, the 31st of Oct 2014."

Attempts to contact Managing Director Khan M Salehin have been unsuccessful.

An Education Sector Organiser with SIPTU, who represents some of the teachers at Leinster College, has said she is not convinced the college will reopen on 7 number.

Louise O'Reilly said "for the last number of weeks staff have been having trouble getting their wages".

Since April, eight private colleges in Dublin have closed, and there are fears that others may close too.

Ms O'Reilly this afternoon said she is "in talks with a number of people, in a number of schools in Dublin and outside Dublin who are very, very worried about the future of their schools. It starts with not getting paid on time and escalates from there."

From January new regulations will govern private language schools.

Dave Moore of the Irish Council for International Students, which offers support and advice to students, says this means there will be "far fewer courses available to students and far fewer colleges should be operating under the new regime".

He added: "That's a good thing in the long term but obviously it does mean that we expect more fallout, more closures in the more immediate term."