It has been the long-standing policy of my Department to admit non-EU nationals to the State in order to study on condition that they are participating in a course of full-time private education at a recognised institution, that they are self-sufficient and that they do not take up employment while in the State. There is a certain amount of abuse of these arrangements, which is a source of concern, but on balance they work well and facilitate genuine students in obtaining further education as well as promoting cultural exchange between our country and others. The private education industry is also of course an important employer and generates significant export revenues.
I am satisfied, however, that to permit non-EU nationals, who have been granted permission to remain as students, to take up employment when they would not otherwise be entitled to do so without a work permit would distort the operation of these arrangements. There would be an unwelcome incentive for persons whose real objective is to access the labour market to enrol in a course or to prolong their attendance at a course, simply to be able to remain in employment here. It would be extremely expensive in terms of Garda resources, if not impossible, to police such arrangements with a view to ensuring that only genuine students were working.
The Deputy should be aware, however, that students are entitled to take up employment, whether paid or not, where such employment forms an integral part of a bona fide course of education, including professional education. Such arrangements are working well in a number of sectors and I would be happy to look into their application in other fields, if the Deputy has some in mind.
