Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 July 2009
662 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has received complaints from persons refused study visas by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform who have failed to receive a refund of their fees from an educational institution; the institutions involved; the action being taken to protect such students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28063/09]
View answerThe number of complaints received by my Department in this area is relatively low. In 2009, four complaints have been received involving three institutions in relation to the issue of fee refunds where study visas have been refused. As the circumstances leading to the complaints are varied and sometimes the result of human error and as the institutions concerned have co-operated with the Department and have either issued refunds to the complainants or have committed to doing so within a short timeframe, I feel that the inclusion of their details on the record of the House would be unwarranted. The failure of any institution to deal satisfactorily with such an issue would result in an evaluation of the continued inclusion of its programmes on the Department's Internationalisation Register.
