Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 1170: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if D study visas for non-EU citizens can be granted for courses that include internships; if the rules concerning same have changed in the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1341/08]

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 1171: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of D study visas granted for courses involving internships issued in 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1342/08]

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 1176: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if D study visas were granted for students to do internships here in 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1378/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1170, 1171 and 1176 together.

Every visa application is considered on its own merits and an application for a visa to pursue a course in Ireland which involves an internship is not regarded as exceptional. Detailed information regarding the process and requirements for a study visa is available for all potential applicants on the Website of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service — www.inis.gov.ie.

Certain criteria for study visas occasionally need to be reviewed, for example, the estimated cost of living for an academic year. However, the fundamental process and requirements have not been changed in the past three years.

Applications for study visas involving internships are not considered separately and, hence, there are no figures available. I can inform the Deputy, however, that the number of study visa applications received in Dublin during 2007 was 3,712 and the total number approved was 1,098.