Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 85: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the steps she has taken since June 2007 to discuss with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Department of Foreign Affairs, to provide for coherence, transparency, efficiency and effectiveness in the system of allocating visas to foreign nationals outside the EEA, who seek to come here to pursue their studies in recognised Irish institutions as recommended in a recent report (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33433/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Since June 2007 my Department has had formal meetings with officials from the Department of Justice Equality and Law Reform on two occasions. At one of these meetings the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment and other agencies involved in the internationalisation of Irish education were also present. In addition to this, there are continuing contacts between officials by phone and e mail on the general approach to these matters. My Department and the D/Justice Equality and Law Reform are also represented on the Advisory Council for English Language Schools, and issues concerning student immigration also arise in this forum.

Responsibility for the allocation of student visas, and immigration generally, is a matter for the Department of Justice Equality and Law Reform and the immigration authorities. The position in regard to students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland entering Ireland to study has been clear from the outset and is set out in the Report of the Internationalisation of Irish Education published in 2004. The immigration regime provides that such students must be attending full time programmes of at least 15 hours per week, pay the full economic fee and be fully self financing.

My Department has also established an Internationalisation Register setting out the programmes which have been approved for the purpose of access to work by such students. This is updated on a monthly basis, is posted on my Department's website, and is made available to the immigration authorities.