Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 454: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if the immigration status of a family (details supplied) in County Kerry will be changed from Stamp 2, study visa, to Stamp 3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9441/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (INIS) of my Department that the persons referred to by the Deputy have permission to be in the State until 22 September 2011 on student conditions. I understand they have availed of the special six-month "timed out" permission for non-EEA students, as outlined under the new immigration regime for full-time non-EEA students. This permission allows timed out non-EEA students to work full-time for the duration of this six-month period and, as an exception to the normal rule, to apply for an employment permit or green card permit without first having to leave the State. This permission is non-renewable.

My officials have also informed me that an application for a change of status from Stamp 2 to Stamp 4 was received from the persons referred to by the Deputy on 26 April 2011. All applications to INIS are dealt with in chronological order and my officials will be in touch with the persons in due course.

I should remind the Deputy that queries in relation to the status of individual Immigration cases may be made direct to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. The service enables up-to-date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek this information through the more administratively expensive Parliamentary Questions process.