Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 October 2015
156. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date in determining eligibility for stamp 4 status for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 1; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35212/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person mentioned arrived in the State on 17 November 2006 and currently has permission as a student in the State until 16 February 2016.
All non-EEA students resident in the State are subject to the student immigration rules set out under the "new immigration regime for full time non-EEA students" which was published in September 2010 and has been in effect since 1 January 2011. These rules stipulate that non-EEA nationals may reside in Ireland as degree students, subject to the provisions of the new regime, for a maximum period of seven years. Three years are permitted at non-degree level. The person referred to by the Deputy was granted, as an exceptional measure, temporary permission on 16 February 2015 for one year in order that they could apply for an employment permit based position. As such they do not qualify for Stamp 4 status.
The Deputy will be aware that queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up-to-date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process.
