Minister urges Portobello Institute PE students to seek legal advice

Minister for Further and Higher Education James Lawless told the Dáil on Thursday that students who paid thousands for a graduate diploma in physical education at the private Portobello Institute should consider obtaining legal advice.

Lawless said he was “not one bit happy” with the situation after the Irish Examiner revealed that most applicants who completed the diploma between 2022 and 2025 have been unable to register with the Teaching Council.

Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen Cummins raised the issue in the Dáil, describing it as “scandalous” and noting a student who paid €18,000 for the course could not have it recognised.

Regulatory complexities

The minister explained that the programme is accredited by a UK regulator, meaning Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) regulations do not apply in the same way as they would to a QQI‑registered course. He warned that students have contractual rights and may have “strong ground for grievance” and therefore should seek legal advice.

QQI is scheduled to meet with England’s Office for Students to discuss the case. Portobello Institute responded that it respects elected representatives raising concerns and that it has engaged with the Teaching Council to resolve the matter, with graduates’ applications being reviewed on a case‑by‑case basis.

Source: Irish Examiner. Photo: Nadin Nandin / Pexels.