Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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168. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of study visas received, issued and refused by her Department for the years 2013, 2014, and 2015 by country in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30740/16]

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 details of the number of student visas granted and refused are set out in the following table. It should be noted that the "All other nationalities" data in the table refer to in the order of 100 different nationalities and, accordingly, the information has been aggregated.

It should also be noted that nationals from many countries including for example, Brazil and the USA, do not require a visa to come to study in Ireland. For nationals requiring a visa, in line with other jurisdictions, my Department operates a visa system which examines the bona fides of each study visa application. The requirements and procedures that are in place are designed to ensure that potential abuses of the study visa system are minimised whilst also affording visa required non-EEA nationals every opportunity to come and study in Ireland.

I am further advised by INIS that they work closely with the colleges, in the third level sector in particular, to ensure every effort is made to process visa applications as quickly as possible bearing in mind various enrolment dates and the type of course which students may wish to undertake to Ireland.