Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 27 Jun 2000

Vol. 522 No. 2

Written Answers. - Student Visas.

Richard Bruton

Question:

360 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if foreign students undertaking study here are permitted to work; and his views on whether such students could provide a pool of people available for part-time and seasonal work in areas where there are labour shortages. [18028/00]

Richard Bruton

Question:

386 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the procedure for renewal of student visas; and if he has satisfied himself that information about this procedure is widely available to students and that no illegitimate trade in providing student visas is being organised to take advantage of the lack of awareness of foreign students of their rights in this regard. [18029/00]

Richard Bruton

Question:

387 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if student visas in Ireland are monitored to confirm that students pursue the course of study for which they enrol; and the procedures used to ensure that such visas are not used as simply grounds for entry to the country with no intention to study. [18030/00]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 360, 386 and 387 together.

Any student who is a national of an European economic area state, comprising the 15 EU member states together with Iceland, Liechenstein and Norway, is entitled to work in the State without a work permit. In so far as the employment of non-EEA students is concerned, it has been the long-standing position that they are not entitled to take up employment while pursuing a course of studies here, with the exception of any work experience required as an integral part of their course of studies.

The procedure whereby non-EEA students may renew their permission to remain in the State is a relatively straightforward one. Provided such persons have not entered the State on a visa which is restricted to a 90 day maximum stay, a ‘C' type visa, they may obtain permission to remain as a student from their local Garda registration office. They will be required to show that they are enrolled in a full time course of study, that they have paid the fees in full for the course and that they have sufficient funds to support themselves for the duration of their stay.

Information regarding these matters is widely available, including in an information note issued by my Department. I am not aware that any lack of information is exposing students to abuse but I would be concerned if this was the case and if the Deputy has more specific information in this regard I would certainly be anxious to review it

I am aware that such students could, potentially, provide a further pool of people for part-time and seasonal work. My concern is that to permit such students to take up employment when they would not otherwise be entitled to do so without a work permit might exacerbate whatever level of abuse already exists in the system and perhaps encourage the illegitimate trade in student visas to which the Deputy refers. There would clearly be an unwelcome incentive for a person 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.

In general, the arrangements relating to the residence of non-EEA students in the State work well and facilitate genuine persons who wish to study here. There is, however, a certain amount of abuse of these procedures by persons who primary intention is to obtain employment rather than to study. While the Garda have statutory powers to enforce compliance with immigration law generally, I am arranging for the introduction of an additional requirement in the registration process whereby students must be in a position to show that their attendance to date has been satisfactory. Persons not in a position to do so will be asked to justify any continued extension of their permission to remain. It is my intention, at any rate, to keep this matter under review, in consultation with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.