Derek Nolan (Galway West, Labour)
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823. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the options available to a person who is currently resident here on a student visa to start their own business and progress their citizenship status accordingly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46957/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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At present the option available to the student is via the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) operated by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department. Details are available on the INIS website www.inis.gov.ie. Unlike student status, the immigration permission granted in respect of this programme is reckonable for the purposes of citizenship.

The Start-up Entrepreneur Programme is currently being reviewed and among the elements being looked at is how it can do more to facilitate student entrepreneurship.