Students at the International Education Academy in Dublin could be left €200,000 out of pocket following reports that the institute's owner has left the country.
A director at the college – a private body which caters for non-EU students – says its founder appears to have left Ireland after he became embroiled in controversy over the issuing of visas.
According to director Celine McGuinness, teachers and administrative staff at the school have not been paid in more than a month, a situation which has cast uncertainty over the future of the Dominick Street institute.
A representative from the Irish Council of Overseas Students (ICOS) says the college currently has 582 registered students in Ireland, while almost 100 prospective students in Brazil have now been left in limbo after paying registration fees of €2,000 each.
There are also additional students who have travelled to Ireland but cannot register with immigration services or obtain a visa to complete their desired course. And more are arriving each week.
“It’s a pretty dreadful situation,” said Ms McGuinness. “You have staff that haven’t been paid and who are doing their best to keep the college going and fantastic students, some of whom are professionals in their own countries.”
Attempts to contact the owner, Jose Amaral, were unsuccessful. It is understood he may now be in Brazil.