Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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425. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number and names of agencies that are used to recruit foreign students by the third level sector; the gross cost to the State of using these agencies including value added tax for each of the past five years; the number of these agencies based here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2159/16]

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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426. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the rules or guidelines governing spending by third level institutions on external agencies used to recruit foreign students and the role of the Office of Government Procurement (professional services) in this process. [2160/16]

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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427. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if an accreditation process is in place for the agencies used to recruit foreign students to third level institutions; the persons responsible for carrying out supplier reviews, approving legal contracts, and for ensuring student aftercare is at an acceptable standard. [2161/16]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 425 to 427, inclusive, together.

My Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to the HEA designated higher education institutions. The HEA allocates this funding to the institutions and the internal disbursement of funding is then a matter for the individual institution and my Department has no role in the day to day operational affairs of the institutions.

Higher education institutions are bound by public procurement procedures in relation to its spending, including that on any external agencies used for the recruitment of foreign students. The tender process and legal arrangements are a matter for the individual institutions as autonomous bodies. The aftercare of international students is also a matter for the individual institution.

Details in respect of the number and names of agencies used to recruit foreign students in the higher education sector, including the cost and number of agencies based here, are not available in my Department. My officials have requested the HEA to seek to compile this information from the institutions and I will arrange for the information to be sent to the Deputy as soon as it is available.