Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 504: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21919/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I can inform the Deputy that my Department has been in contact with the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland with regard to the application by the college referred to by the Deputy, a private US establishment, to be included on the Internationalisation Register (a list of approved courses for non-EEA students). I understand from those discussions that the college is not eligible for inclusion on the Internationalisation Register as it does not provide full time programmes in Ireland, of at least one year's duration leading to awards which are validated or accredited by national awarding bodies from other countries which have a status in law or are otherwise recognised as having authority to make awards which have national recognition in their host jurisdiction. The courses offered by the college are not accredited by any US educational authorities.

Notwithstanding the above, the Student Review Unit of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service is considering the application of in question and will be in contact with the college in due course.