Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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1907. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Palestinians he is aware of who are seeking a student visa to pursue a scholarship granted by an Irish third level institution for the 2025-26 academic year; and if he will commit to facilitating their entry to the State. [44317/25]

Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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2036. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if his Department is aware of Palestinian students being refused student visas as their scholarships provided through public third level students are not “official Government scholarships”; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42296/25]

Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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2037. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his Department’s position on the denial of visas to Palestinian students as their scholarships, which are funded by public universities, are not “official Government scholarships”; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42297/25]

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1907, 2036 and 2037 together.

Visa applications from Palestine are received by the Embassy of Ireland in Tel Aviv who process certain visa applications under delegated sanction on behalf of my Department.

Officials in my Department’s Visa Division are in regular contact with the Embassy regarding visa applications from residents of Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon. Both Departments work together to ensure visa applications Palestinian nationals who meet the criteria to be granted a visa are, wherever possible, processed as swiftly as possible. The Embassy are actively engaging with applicants to gather the required documents to ensure that the Visa Division of my Department have everything needed to progress these applications.

I appreciate that those with a student scholarship for a higher educational institution in Ireland are eager to take up their positions in the coming academic year. I understand that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Irish Embassies and Consulates, which are limited in the assistance they can provide to non-Irish citizens, are actively exploring options for the provision of assistance to individuals in Gaza who wish to travel to Ireland. This includes students who have been granted scholarships by Higher Level Institutions in Ireland for the upcoming academic year.

I further understand that exit from Gaza is dependent on receipt of permission from the relevant local authorities, both in Israel and in certain circumstances neighbouring jurisdictions. Such permissions are outside the control of the Government of Ireland.

I am advised that the students referred to should continue to engage with Embassy of Ireland in Tel Aviv regarding their applications.