Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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116. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the regulations and guidelines in place for teenage international students arriving here that live with a host family and attend secondary schools for an academic term or complete school year, without the presence of their parents or legal guardians within the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11515/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate any regulations or guidelines on access to secondary education of any child, regardless of their nationality, and for their care in the State is primarily the responsibility of my colleagues the Minister for Education and Skills and the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. However, I am aware that the Final Report of the Interdepartmental Committee on Non-EEA Students (September 2010) recommended the following:

"no further placement of unaccompanied non-EEA children in Irish Schools will be permitted except where

(i) the programme is part of a Government approved exchange programme with another state or

(ii) the school operates entirely without state support or

(iii) the parent has paid an immigration levy set by the Government as a means of recovering some or all of the costs of the child's education and the Department of Education and Skills has approved the placement on an individual basis or via a general sanction for all placements"

Any such levy would come under the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Education and Skills.

On a more general note, immigration officials at ports of entry maintain a vigilant watch in relation to unaccompanied minors entering the State so as to ensure that a guardian is available to take responsibility for the minor concerned. This process can include, as necessary, contact with the parents, the host family or the school concerned.