Delays in work permits means Cork is a less attractive place for international students to study English.
That's according to The Progressive College Network which says students from South America and Asia who come here on 8 month visas are spending half their time waiting for an appointment with immigration to secure work permits.
Without an Irish Residency Permit the students can't work or get a bank account and the group says its now impacting English language schools in Cork as students are avoiding the city.
Speaking to RedFM News, David Russell from the Progressive College Network says the situation is also impacting accommodation providers and employers
"News has filtered back. So now students are very often, deciding to avoid Cork, totally, and they are just going to Dublin. So the fact that they're not coming to Cork, I think it's not just impacting the English language skills, but it's also impacting accommodation providers and employers"
