Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 May 2013
469. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice and Equality under the MEI pilot programme, the number of visas that were issued to non-MEI schools; the exact number of visas issued and the number refused under the MEI pilot programme. [22419/13]
View answerSince 2011 the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service ( INIS ) has established pilot programmes in Turkey and China in partnership with Marketing English in Ireland ( MEI ). These pilot programmes, aimed at second level students and, separately, at third level students and executive level employees, have been put in place to help position Ireland as a high quality destination for English language students. These pilot programmes have now been extended for a further phase covering 2013 and 2014.
Approximately 100 applications for study under these programmes have been received at the INIS Visa Office in Beijing, China. Of these, about 75% were granted and 25% refused, with a few awaiting final decision. It is not possible to provide the detailed figures requested for applications received at the Embassy in Ankara, Turkey, nor for the number of students who have availed of these programmes from non-MEI member schools, as the relevant data is not held in a fashion which allows for such statistics to be readily compiled.
