Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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157. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if applications for J1 visas will be processed on time to facilitate the applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12380/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The US J1 Summer Work and Travel programme has been a tremendously successful part of the Irish-US bilateral relationship for almost 50 years, with 150,000 Irish third level students taking the opportunity to experience life and work in the US over that time.

The Government of Ireland does not have any role in administering the J-1 scheme, which is a programme of the US Department of State run by a number of not-for-profit US sponsoring bodies, who in turn work with commercial agencies here in Ireland. However, I am aware of issues affecting a relatively small number of applicants in relation to the processing of their pending applications.

I understand that the US Embassy in Dublin is in touch with the agencies involved and is seeking to determine the best course of action to ensure that Irish students who are eligible and qualified to participate in the J-1 program this year will be able to do so.

Officials from my Department are in ongoing contact with the US Embassy in relation to this issue and I can assure the Deputy of the Government’s commitment to the continued success of the J-1 programme.