Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 665: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if there has recently been a change in the regulations and requirements for persons who are not EU citizens staying here on student visas who wish to extend their visa; the changes in relation to same; the locations and the way such changes were notified to the public and to the groups most affected, including the English language schools; his views on whether the requirements for standing bank balance are punitive in view of the fact that those affected are students; his plans to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16861/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I can inform the Deputy that there have been no changes to the conditions applying to the renewal of permissions to remain in the State granted to non EEA students. I am aware that a notice outlining changed conditions was, due to an error of communication, recently posted in the offices of the Garda National Immigration Bureau and I appreciate that this gave rise to some confusion regarding the renewal of such permissions. That notice has since been removed.

My Department is however conducting a review of the qualifying conditions that apply to such renewals. Matters under review include the level of funds that a student must have in order to show that they can support themselves financially while in the State and the means whereby it can be verified that these funds are genuinely at the student's disposal (i.e. not merely transferred for a short period so as to satisfy the immigration authorities). The Deputy may be aware that there have been a number of abuses in this sector in the past. Any significant changes arising from this review will be notified well in advance.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 666: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if a visa will be granted on appeal to a person (details supplied). [16898/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I refer the Deputy to the answer given by my predecessor to Parliamentary Question Number 420 of 31 January, 2007. The position remains the same. The application was received in the Visa Office, Cairo. The decision of the Visa Officer to refuse the application was taken on September 5th, 2006. The Visa Officer who examined the application was not satisfied, on the basis of the documentation submitted, that the applicant would adhere to the conditions of the visa.

An appeal against the refusal decision was received in November, 2006. Following a re-examination of the application, the decision to refuse was upheld in January, 2007 as the applicant had not adequately addressed the reason for refusal. As each applicant is entitled to one appeal only, no further review in this matter can be granted; however it is open to the applicant to make a fresh application.