Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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46. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if, and when, she will approve a change in the residency status of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12353/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that, as the person in question arrived in the State in 2007 and was registered as a student here up to 26 November 2014, they are now deemed to be a timed out Student. Ireland has offered a generous immigration regime to foreign students, not only in allowing them to work to support themselves in their studies but also in providing ample opportunity for them to obtain academic qualifications that will equip them for their future, whether that is in Ireland or on return to their home country. It is up to each student to make the best use of that opportunity. If their academic achievement is high, Ireland offers opportunities to students to stay on as graduates, researchers, or high skilled employees. In other words, student permission gives the person concerned a chance to qualify for an enhanced immigration status on the basis of their academic achievement. However, student permission is of a temporary and limited nature that is not reckonable for naturalisation purposes and that generally does not allow for family reunification. Merely spending time in Ireland as a student does not confer entitlement or expectation to remain.

I wish to draw the Deputy's attention to the document 'Guidelines for non EEA national students registered in Ireland before 1 January, 2011'. This notice clarifies the position in relation to non EEA students registered here. The overall seven year period, which the person in question has now exhausted, provides students with ample opportunity to achieve the sort of qualifications they need to qualify them for an employment permit if they wish to remain in Ireland afterwards.

I wish to advise the Deputy that correspondence issued to the person in question on 24 May 2016.

Queries in relation to general immigration matters may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for his purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.