Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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518. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he can outline the rationale as to why persons who are in the State on student visas are allowed to work on a casual or part-time basis, but are not allowed to become self-employed and work on a casual or part-time basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24742/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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My Department has responsibility for immigration-related matters, including the entry and residence conditions of non-EEA students. My Department engages with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, among other key sectorial stakeholders, in this area.

A student's primary purpose for being in the State is to study. 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.

However, since April 2001, non-EEA students with a Stamp 2 immigration permission, and who are 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.

The conditions attached to all immigration permissions are kept under ongoing review by my Department with all relevant stakeholders. Any changes to the work entitlements of non-EEA students would be a policy decision for the wider stakeholder group.