Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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1493. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if 30,000 student visas will be given out this year to international students; and the requirements to access these visas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19922/25]

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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1494. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality in light of the housing crisis, whether it is prudent to give 30,000 student visas to international students who will be requiring accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19923/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1493 and 1494 together.

As a matter of long standing policy Ireland welcomes international students who wish to travel here in order to pursue a full-time course of study, thereby providing economic and other benefits to Ireland, as well of course as to the students themselves.

Non-EEA national students are given an Irish immigration permission on Stamp 2 conditions upon satisfying certain criteria. One of the criteria is that they have enrolled on, and have commenced a course listed on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP), which is issued by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

The ILEP is being replaced by TrustEd which will be administered by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), a statutory body under the aegis of the DFHERIS. TrustEd Ireland is a new statutory quality mark and is part of a suite of legislative measures designed to protect international learners.

Policy in respect of the terms of the ILEP or in respect of non-EEA students generally is kept under ongoing review in consultation with the Department for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, as well as through engagement with other stakeholders.