Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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304. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if consideration has been given to further visa extensions for students that are here to study English that have had classes cancelled as a result of the ongoing pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13155/20]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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On 13 May 2020, my Department announced that immigration permissions due to expire between 20 May and 20 July 2020 will be automatically extended for two months. Any permission which was renewed by an earlier notice of 20 March 2020 and which therefore has a new expiry date between 20 May 2020 and 20 July 2020 is also renewed. This exceptional temporary measure also applies to non-nationals currently outside the State, provided the person otherwise meets the conditions set out in the notices.

On 26 May 2020, my Department set out further measures to assist international students studying English in Ireland who have been impacted upon by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new measures are as follows:

- Students who left the State before completion of their studies due to COVID-19 may return and resume their studies and the duration of their absence will not count towards the two years maximum period of English language study allowed; and

- International English language students with a current, valid permission who are still in the State and who have completed the maximum two years permitted as a language student, but due to COVID-19 are unable to return home, may remain as students until the end of the year provided they re-enrol in an online course of study for the remainder of the year.

These new measures will provide students with some assurance and certainty for the coming months. We will continue to keep the situation under active review as matters evolve in our national response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The renewal of permission is on the same basis as the existing permission and the same conditions attach. This means, for instance, that students will need to ensure that they remain enrolled on their course of study.

Visa required students will need to apply for a visa before returning to the State if the validity period of the visa has expired. While the Immigration Service has temporarily ceased accepting new visa applications, persons legally resident in the State are included in the categories of Priority / Emergency cases, which will continue to be processed. Visa required students are advised to consult the Immigration Service website for the required documentation - www.inis.gov.ie.

While both the Dublin area Registration Office in Burgh Quay and regional Registration Offices operated by An Garda Síochána remain temporarily closed, arrangements have been put in place for students awaiting first time registration, students who wish to change their permission applications and students who wish to avail of the Third Level Graduate Programme.

A new online Registration Renewal System for non-EEA national students based in Dublin was launched by my Department on 22 June, 2020.

Students wishing to renew their registration will complete their renewal online without having to book an appointment or personally attend the registration office. The service will be made available to all categories of non-EEA national students residing in the Dublin area, who are eligible for renewal of their permission to reside in Ireland.

Such students will now complete the application form online via the following link , upload copies of supporting documents online, pay the applicable fee and then submit their passport and current IRP card via registered post. Documents will be checked and, if approved, the passport will be stamped and returned by registered post and an IRP card issued by express post.

Further updates will be provided on the Immigration Service website, and I would encourage all students to regularly consult our updates on the website at:

www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/COVID-19-updates-and-announcements.

A detailed Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document, which is regularly update, is also available on this website on the impact of COVID-19 on immigration and international protection.

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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305. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if consideration has been given to reviewing the requirement for English language students to enrol in an online course in order to gain an extension to their student visa, in view of the fact contact learning in an English speaking environment is usually the express reason these students have chosen to travel here. [13156/20]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I appreciate that students have travelled to Ireland to avail of in-person classes.However, due to the current COVID-19 restrictions that is not possible at this time. I understand and recognise the difficulties that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on all immigrants, and in particular our international student population.

My Department has taken extensive measures to date to support students and the English language educational sector.

On 13 May 2020, my Department announced that immigration permissions due to expire between 20 May and 20 July 2020 will be automatically extended for two months. Any permission which was renewed by an earlier notice of 20 March 2020 and which therefore has a new expiry date between 20 May 2020 and 20 July 2020 is also renewed. This exceptional temporary measure also applies to non-nationals currently outside the State, provided the person otherwise meets the conditions set out in the notices.

On 26 May 2020 further measures were introduced to assist international students studying English in Ireland who have been impacted upon by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new measures are as follows:

- Students who left the State before completion of their studies due to COVID-19 may return and resume their studies and the duration of their absence will not count towards the two years maximum period of English language study allowed; and

- International English language students with a current, valid permission who are still in the State and who have completed the maximum two years permitted as a language student, but due to COVID-19 are unable to return home, may remain as students until the end of the year provided they re-enrol in an online course of study for the remainder of the year.

These new measures to support students will provide some assurance and certainty for the coming months. We will continue to keep the situation under active review as matters evolve in our national response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The renewal of a permission is on the same basis as the existing permission and the same conditions attach. Therefore, anyone resident in Ireland with a student permission is required to attend scheduled classes and, in the current circumstances, this includes where classes are provided online. The Government Roadmap for reopening society and business will guide when on-site classes can recommence.

Visa required students will need to apply for a visa before returning to the State if the validity period of the visa held has expired. While the Immigration Service has temporarily ceased accepting new visa applications, persons legally resident in the State are included in the categories of Priority / Emergency cases, which will continue to be processed. Visa required students are advised to consult the Immigration Service website for the required documentation - www.inis.gov.ie.

While both the Dublin area Registration Office in Burgh Quay and regional Registration Offices operated by An Garda Síochána remain temporarily closed, arrangements have been put in place for students awaiting first time registration, students who wish to change their permission applications and students who wish to avail of the Third Level Graduate Programme.

A new online Registration Renewal System for non-EEA national students based in Dublin was launched by my Department on 22 June, 2020.

Students wishing to renew their registration will complete their renewal online without having to book an appointment or personally attend the registration office. The service will be made available to all categories of non-EEA national students residing in the Dublin area only, who are eligible for renewal of their permission to reside in Ireland.

Students seeking to renew their permission will now complete the application form online via the following link , upload copies of supporting documents online, pay the applicable fee and then submit their passport and current IRP card via registered post. Documents will be checked and, if approved, the passport will be stamped and returned by registered post and an IRP card issued by express post.

Further updates will be provided on the Immigration Service website when available, and I would encourage all students to regularly consult our updates on the website at:.

A detailed Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document is also available on this website on the impact of COVID-19 on immigration and international protection. This document is regularly updated.