Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 58: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform when he will publish details of the new immigration regime for full-time non-EEA students [46621/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Final Report and Recommendations of the Interdepartmental Committee to oversee reform of the non-EEA student immigration regime was published on 22 September 2010. The Report entitled 'New Immigration Regime for Full Time non-EEA Students', which is available on the website of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (www.inis.gov.ie), contains more than 20 recommendations designed to reform the student immigration regime in a manner that is better integrated with Ireland's immigration policy generally while providing a stronger regulatory framework for the sustainable development of the international education sector. The Report was approved by Government.

A number of these recommendations will now come into effect from 1 January 2011 including the introduction of maximum periods of residence in the State on foot of a student permission and the introduction of a differentiated approach as between "Degree Programme" courses and those at the "Language or Non Degree Programme" level.

Special transitional arrangements have been set for those students already in the State who will be affected by the new regime. In addition clear guidelines regarding the operation of the new regime will shortly be published on the website of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (www.inis.gov.ie). These guidelines will be of benefit to students currently in Ireland as well as to students who wish to travel to Ireland in the future for the purpose of pursuing a course of study.