Academic Bridge and National Employee Development Centre win legal challenge

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Academic Bridge Ltd and the National Employee Development Centre Ltd succeeded in their legal challenge against accreditation requirements in the High Court, reported on 13 January 2015.

Both Dublin-based schools said the rules threatened their ability to recruit non-European Union and European Economic Area students.

Ms Justice Marie Baker found the Minister had unduly restricted eligibility for an interim accreditation list.

She also found the Qualifications and Quality Assurance Authority of Ireland had no power to manage accreditation for admission onto that list.

The judge said the authority might have contractual power over a narrower voluntary recognition scheme.

The matter was adjourned before final orders were made.