Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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1539. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the rationale behind the increased financial support requirements for international students, from €7,000 to €10,000, for courses over eight months, and from €4,680 to €6,665 for shorter courses; what assessment has been made of the potential impact on international students’ ability to study and work in Ireland, and on the broader economy, particularly in sectors facing staffing shortages; and what measures will be taken to ensure these changes do not deter students from choosing Ireland as a study destination. [18986/25]

Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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1567. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to investigate and reverse the recent changes to English language schools (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19431/25]

Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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1585. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will order a pause to the increase to €6,665 in financial support international students are required to demonstrate in order to study in Ireland; if she will instruct her Department to engage in meaningful consultation with the education sector in line with its Customer Charter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19826/25]

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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1596. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will pause and review the changes in financial requirements due to come into effect for non-visa required international students on 30 June 2025; if he will engage in consultation with the education sector in relation to the proposed changes; if he will make a statement as to the rationale for the changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20072/25]

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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1633. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will outline the timeframe in and amounts by which he intends to increase the level of funds which students seeking to study English in Ireland are required to prove; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20849/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1539, 1567, 1585, 1596 and 1633 together.

One of the key conditions applicable to a student coming to Ireland is that they must be able to support themselves without claiming state benefits. As such, proof of available finances is a requirement for all relevant non-EEA national students, both visa and non-visa required. This is separate to any educational fees and relates only to levels of funds required to live in Ireland. It also considers the welfare of international students to ensure they can meet essential living costs during their studies.

Following a review by my Department in 2022, it was concluded that the level of funds required should be increased to more accurately reflect the average annual living expenses for students in Ireland. Prior to 2022, these finance levels had not been reviewed in more than 10 years.

These changes were agreed with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS), and in consultation with relevant stakeholders.

As part of this review, and with effect from 1 July 2023, the financial requirements for students from visa required countries increased from €7,000 to €10,000 and, for students from non-visa required countries, from €3,000 to €4,500.

It was also agreed that the difference in funds required for students based on visa requirements would be gradually removed. To this end, the level of funds required for non-visa required students was further increased in 2024, from €4,500 to €7,000.

Relative adjustments were also made to the monthly requirements for non-visa required students on shorter courses, with the maximum duration increased from 6 months to 8 months to allow more courses to benefit from this derogation. Some English language courses can be of 6 months duration, and the associated financial requirements are proportionally lower.

As part of this overall review, a further increase is scheduled to take effect on 30 June 2025, with a notification of this published on my Department's Immigration Service website on 24 March 2025: Information on Student Finances - Immigration Service Delivery.

This increase will bring the level of funds required for non-visa required students from €7,000 to €10,000, in line with the level for visa required students.

From June 2025, shorter courses resulting in a stay of usually 6 to 8 months in duration have a new monthly financial requirement for both visa and non-visa required students, which will be €833 per month. This equates to €4,998 for a 6 month stay or €6,665 for an 8 month stay.

DFHERIS has notified the representative bodies for Ireland’s higher education institutions, as well as English language schools, of this change.