Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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There has always been a requirement for full time non-EEA students to demonstrate access to sufficient funds to support themselves during their period of study in Ireland. In that regard from 1 April 2011 all non-EEA students will be required to demonstrate that they have access to €3,000 at first registration. The Guidelines for Degree Programme Students and the Guidelines for Language and Non-Degree Programme Students, as published on the website of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service, www.inis.gov.ie, clearly state that students must provide a bank statement, from an Irish bank, showing that they have access to €3,000 at first registration. This is a welfare condition to ensure that a student can support themselves in the initial months of their stay in Ireland. In that regard the student is not required to carry €3,000 cash on their person. This condition applies to all non-EEA students irrespective of whether or not their nationality requires a visa for the purposes of entering the State.