Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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63. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of an application for a visa in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36394/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I have been informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person concerned entered the State on 6 June 2008 and was registered as a student on Stamp 2 conditions between 10 July 2008 and 22 August 2015.

On 10 February 2014, the person concerned made an application for a change in their immigration status from Stamp 2 to Stamp 4 permission to remain in the State. They were informed on 5 February 2015 that their application had been refused as they were subject to the Student Pathway and thus had no entitlement to Stamp 4 permission to remain in the State.

In this respect, I wish to draw the Deputy’s attention to the Student Pathway information leaflet which is available on the INIS web site. This notice clarifies the position in relation to non-EEA students registered in Ireland prior to 1 January 2011. As well as the above document, a series of guideline notes outlining how the new immigration regime operates is available on the INIS web site, including information on maximum time limits for students who wish to study at Language Non Degree Level and Degree Level.

On 21 November 2016, the person concerned made an application for an extension of their student permission to remain in the State. This application has been received in the Residence Division of INIS and will be considered in due course.

The Deputy may wish to note that queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this 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.