Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 227: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps he proposes to take to eliminate the situation where students from outside the EU must pay a minimum visa charge of €100; the steps he will take to abolish those unnecessary visa charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1600/07]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 239: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the details of a new payment that foreign nationals from non EU countries must pay on an annual basis to renew their work permit; when and the reason this payment was introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43860/06]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 358: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a fee of €100 has been introduced for the renewal of student visas to remain in the State; if there is provision for a waiver of this fee in the case of financial hardship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2048/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 227, 239 and 358 together.

A fee for immigration registration certificates was introduced in the Immigration Act 2004 (Registration Certificate Fee) Regulations 2006, which came into effect on 27 May 2006. The introduction of such a fee had been flagged both in the Immigration Act 2004, and in the discussion document containing the outline policy proposals for an Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill.

Non-EEA nationals who register with an immigration registration officer receive a secure residence document in the form of a Certificate of Registration (registration card). The State must provide the administrative resources and computer systems necessary to deal with the issuing of these residence documents. The costs involved include the setting up and maintenance of a state-of-the-art computerised registration system operated by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB), the administrative work by registration officers in the form of checking of documentation and capture of registration details and the actual cost of the card itself which includes several security features, including a biometric chip. The current fee of €100 is in line with the amounts charged in other states.

The Regulations provide for the waiving of payment of the statutory fee for the following:

(a) non-nationals who, at the time of registration under section 9 of the Immigration Act, 2004, are

(i) under 18 years of age

(ii) married to Irish citizens, or

(iii) holders of a valid residence card issued under Regulation 7 of the European Communities (Free Movement of Persons) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 226 of 2006,.

(b) persons in respect of whom a declaration under section 17 of the Refugee Act, 1996, is for the time being, in force,

(c) persons who have been granted permission under section 18 of the Refugee Act, 1996 to enter and reside in the State, and

(d) programme refugees within the meaning of section 24 of the Refugee Act, 1996.

I do not have any discretionary powers to waive payment of the statutory fee in any circumstances.