Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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98. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if the third level graduate scheme has been extended to 24 months as stated on the Education Ireland website; if so, the date that this will come into effect; if it applies to persons currently or previously granted 12 months permission under the scheme; and when the details of the scheme will be made available on the INIS website. [6845/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The 2016 to 2020 International Education Strategy - Irish Educated Globally Connected - launched by my colleague the Minister for Education and Skills in October 2016 includes a recommendation that “The current 12 months stay back permission for international students will be amended to further incentivise high performing students to come to Ireland and remain on after their studies, to meet the present skills and language needs identified by business”.

Both my Department and the Department of Education and Skills are at an advanced stage of discussing the modalities of the 'stay back permission' which is more properly referred to as the Third Level Graduate Scheme. While both Departments are agreed that the Scheme should be extended to twenty four months for graduates at level 9 and above of the National Framework of Qualifications, the finer details of the Scheme are being finalised, to ensure clarity to those who will seek admission to it. I expect that a joint statement setting out the parameters of the new scheme will be issued by both Departments at the conclusion of these discussions and it is anticipated that all the necessary arrangements will be in place for the graduating classes of 2017, who will be the first beneficiaries.