Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 374: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will make a statement on the fact that children of foreign nationals on a student visa are being told that they do not have the right to enrol their children, even when the children have been given a place in a national school; and her views on whether this prohibition is in contravention of the internationally accepted rights of the child in international law. [22332/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Existing education policy is that students up to 18 years of age are admitted to schools irrespective of their nationality or status. Indeed, under the Equal Status Act, schools may not discriminate in admission to schools except where this is necessary to maintain the religious values or ethos of the school. The Act does provide for differential treatment in relation to fees for further and higher education for persons who are not nationals of an EU Member State.

I understand that student Visas issued by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform are subject to a number of conditions including conditions which relate to financial independence and access to State funded services.