Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 1631: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the protections in place to ensure that third country students receive a full refund of tuition fees from the education provider when a student visa is not granted by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2208/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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An Internationalisation Register is maintained by my Department which contains a list of approved programmes in a range of disciplines.The overall objective of this register is to ensure that international students entering Ireland are exposed to a quality learning experience and that the reputation of Ireland as a venue of excellence for such services is enhanced. These programmes are offered to students in third level and further education colleges in the public and private sectors. Students who are citizens from outside the E.U., E.E.A. or Switzerland, registering with the Garda National Immigration Bureau, will not be permitted access to employment unless they are attending a programme included on the Register. The conditions for inclusion require that the programme should lead to an award which is nationally recognised in Ireland or by an awarding body overseas which has a status in law or is otherwise recognised as having authority to make awards which have national recognition in their host jurisdiction.

While my Department has no function in relation to the operation of private colleges, if the Deputy wishes to provide details of a specific incident, the Department will pursue the matter with the College concerned. Failure by a College to deal satisfactorily with such a matter would result in an evaluation of the continued inclusion of its programmes on the Register.

Students may also contact the National Consumer Agency, which is a statutory body established by Government to defend consumer interests and to embed a robust consumer culture in Ireland.