Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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281. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that exchange students who will be studying in the coming academic year in the USA cannot sit visa interviews due to Covid-19 restrictions; the steps he is taking to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31114/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The processing of US student visas, and the provision of appointments at US Embassies, is solely a matter for the US authorities.

Officials in my department have brought this issue to the attention of officials in Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Department of Foreign Affairs have informed us that they have raised the issue with the US Embassy in Dublin, encouraging them to process student visas as soon as it is feasible and safe to do so.

The Department of Foreign Affairs have further informed us that, together with other EU countries, Ireland has also written to US Secretary of State Blinken requesting reconsideration of the US travel restrictions currently in place, and that they will continue to maintain regular contact with the Embassy, and with the US State Department via our Embassy in Washington D.C., including with regard to travel restrictions between our two countries.