The government says it expects more English language colleges to shut after it announced plans to tackle what is says is the continued abuse of student immigration by a number of providers.

It is clamping down on schools who issue visas for students to travel to Ireland, after several schools shut down earlier this summer.

Under the new regime coming into force next January, a more restrictive list of education programmes will be eligible for student immigration purposes and an enhanced inspection regime will be implemented.

From now on schools will only be allowed to issue visas if their courses have national recognition.

The schools will also be subject to more regular inspections.

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald and Education Minister Jan O'Sullivan have also published a report into the closure of a number of private English language colleges earlier this year - with all affected students now given alternative places.

Ms Fitzgerald says the changes are to ensure Ireland has a top class immigration and international education system.