Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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56.To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is aware that at least 11 Palestinian graduates who came here to study on ICOS/Department of Foreign Affairs-/Irish Aid-sponsored scholarships have recently received a letter (details supplied); if he agrees that this is a poor choice of options, given the situation in Palestine; the reason the option to secure a two-year graduate work visa is not given to these Palestinian graduates as it is to their fellow overseas graduates; if he will commit to ensuring that this option is now extended to these graduates as a matter of priority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25120/24]

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Foreign Affairs Ireland Fellows Programme, which was established in 1974, brings students from developing countries to study for a one-year Masters-level qualification at an Irish Higher Education Institution (HEI). The aims of the Programme are to nurture future leaders, to develop partner countries’ capacities to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, and to build positive relationships with Ireland. 206 Fellows from 42 countries took up their Fellowship awards to study in 17 Irish HEIs for the academic year 2023-24, including 22 from the Occupied Palestinian Territory: 11 from the West Bank and 11 from Gaza.

The Programme is managed by the Irish Council for International Students (ICOS) on behalf of the Department. As normal, and in consultation with the Department, ICOS were in contact last month with all Fellows about their departure arrangements at the end of their Fellowship. Given the particularly difficult circumstances of the 11 students from Gaza, it is regrettable that their attention was not initially drawn to the option of considering the Third level graduate programme, also known as the Stay Back Visa. Information on the visa has now been shared with them in writing and officials of the Department have been in direct contact with each of the students to explain the option.

The visa provides an opportunity to legally-resident, Irish-educated, non-EEA graduates who hold an appropriate award from a recognised Irish awarding body, to remain in Ireland after their studies for a period of twelve months, with a potential extension of a further 12 months.