Seán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 405: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of tourist visas to Ireland issued by the Beijing, Cairo, New Delhi, Abuja and Moscow visa offices for the years 2007 to 2010, inclusive, and to date in 2011. [11742/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Ireland does not have a separate category of tourist visa; therefore the information sought by the Deputy is unavailable. However, the statistics in respect of visit visas granted, which includes potential tourists, for the years in question are as follows: Abuja - 4,315 (2009 to 2011 Q1), Beijing 6,639 (2006 to 2011 Q1), Cairo 2,141 (2009 to 2011 Q1), Moscow 9,774 (2009 to 2011 Q1), New Delhi 15,641 (2007 to 2011 Q1). Compilation of the detailed information requested by the Deputy in relation to Abuja, Cairo, and Moscow prior to 2009, and New Delhi prior to 2007, would involve a disproportionate amount of staff time and resources which could not be justified in the circumstances.

Seán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 406: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of applications for an Irish student visa in each year over the past five years and to date in 2011; the countries at which such residents came from; and if the visa application was approved, refused or pending and the number of each case. [11743/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I must advise the Deputy that electronic records retained for the year 2006 do not facilitate extraction of the details requested. Furthermore, it is not possible to produce, in a reasonable time frame and with a proportionate use of staff resources, an exact figure for the number of study visa applications which could be described as pending. Visa applications are received at all Irish embassies and consulates in many different time zones across the world on a daily basis and can be in transit between offices or between an office and the applicant at any given time. In addition, many applicants commence an on line visa application, but do not go on to complete the application or submit supporting documentation.

The overall figures for the years 2007 to 2011 are as follows:

Visas for the purpose of study were granted to applicants from over 60 countries. The majority of students come from China, Russia and Saudi Arabia which together make up about 60% of all such visas granted.