Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

313. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide an update in respect of allowing persons studying in Ireland under a student visa to work more than 20 hours per week during term time in order to assist the hospitality and other sectors to fill job vacancies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59937/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department has responsibility for immigration-related matters, including the entry and residence conditions of non-EEA students, who are granted a Stamp 2 immigration permission, and continually consults and engages with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, among other key sectoral stakeholders, in this area.

All applicants for permission to study in Ireland must show that they have sufficient funds to support their stay in Ireland without recourse to public funds, or the reliance on casual employment.

Although the primary purpose for being in the State is as a student, since April 2001, non-EEA nationals with permission to remain in the State as students, on a Stamp 2 immigration permission, and enrolled on courses with education providers listed on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) including English language courses, have been afforded the opportunity to work.

This allows them to take up casual employment to supplement their income while studying in Ireland. During term time, non-EEA students can work up to 20 hours per week and during normal college holiday periods they can work on a full time basis up to 40 hours per week.

A Student permission is granted to qualifying students up to a maximum of 7 years and thereafter if the student wishes to remain in Ireland they can apply for the Third level Graduate Programme (Stamp 1G). A Stamp 1G permission allows legally resident Irish educated non-EEA graduates holding an award of a recognised Irish awarding body to remain in Ireland after their studies. The stamp 1G permission is granted for the purpose of seeking graduate level employment and applying for a general employment permit, a critical skills employment permit or research hosting agreement to the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment. The Stamp 1G is granted for 12 months or 24 months if a Masters Degree graduate.

The conditions attaching to all immigration permissions are kept under ongoing review by my Department in conjunction with relevant stakeholders.