Written Answers Nos. 49-61
49. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the top ten English language schools by numbers of students registered by GNIB, in tabular form; the nationalities and numbers of students registered in each school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6478/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the specific information sought by the Deputy is not available. The role of INIS must be understood in the broader context of the English language (ELT) sector in Ireland more generally, and my Department's responsibility in relation to the immigration status of non-EEA nationals.
The sector, which predominantly operates in the commercial sphere, recruits students from a wide range of international markets with a particular focus on recruitment from within the EEA. English language programmes are targeted at juvenile (which make up the majority of seasonal English language students each year) and adult students. Programmes of varying duration are on offer, including short intensive programmes usually less than three months, and longer examination-focused programmes of six or more months duration. The sector is not structured in a way that reflects the immigration and border control arrangements in the State and, as such, straddles all categories of international students both European and further afield.
In addition to EEA persons, who do not require permission from the immigration services to be in the State, for non-EEA nationals, registration information is recorded on the basis of the individual student and not the educational institution. Also, only persons intending to remain in the State longer than ninety days are obliged to register their presence with the immigration authorities and this obligation applies only to non-EEA nationals over sixteen years of age. Accordingly, the specific information sought by the Deputy is not available.
In 2015 the Government introduced revised arrangements as regards student immigration. In particular, educational providers intending to recruit non-EEA international students to programmes longer than ninety (90) days duration must be listed on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes ILEP. The list is only open to those offering English language (of 25 weeks or more) and higher education programmes (leading to a recognised award by an Irish awarding body) and providers are prohibited from recruiting non-EEA international students to other categories of programme. As part of the process of being listed on the ILEP, providers must submit a clear capacity statement setting out the maximum number of students that can be accommodated within their existing physical teaching resources.
A table sets out the top ten English language providers in order of their stated maximum capacity. It is important to bear in mind that this table only relates to those providers seeking to recruit non-EEA international students to programmes of at least twenty five weeks duration. It would not be unusual for such providers to offer programmes to both EU/EEA international students and non-EEA students and the maximum capacity statement applies to both categories and not just non-EEA capacity.
|
Rank |
ELT Provider |
Maximum Capacity |
|
1 |
IBAT |
1,500 |
|
2 |
English Studio |
1,368 |
|
3 |
Griffith College (Cork Dublin and Limerick Campuses) |
1,320 |
|
4 |
Delphin |
960 |
|
5 |
SEDA |
900 |
|
6 |
Grafton College |
840 |
|
7 |
Atlantic Language |
768 |
|
8 |
Emerald |
754 |
|
9 |
Swan Training |
720 |
|
10 |
Active Language Learning |
660 |
As outlined above, it is not possible to provide the Deputy with a breakdown of each nationality group in each institution. However, the table lists the top ten nationalities of all non-EEA international students currently registered with the immigration authorities across all programmes eligible for listing on the ILEP.
|
Rank |
Nationality |
Number Registered |
|
1 |
Brazil |
9,225 |
|
2 |
China |
3,127 |
|
3 |
USA |
2,578 |
|
4 |
India |
2,151 |
|
5 |
Malaysia |
1,587 |
|
6 |
Saudi Arabia |
1,151 |
|
7 |
Canada |
956 |
|
8 |
South Korea |
868 |
|
9 |
Mexico |
853 |
|
10 |
Pakistan |
597 |
50. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of community policing forums in existence here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6480/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra51. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the way in which community policing forums here are funded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6481/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 50 and 51 together.
An Garda Síochána engages with many local structures including statutory fora such as Joint Policing Committees (JPCs) and Local Policing Fora established by JPCs as well as more informal community based groups, including Community Alert and Neighbourhood Watch groups throughout the country.
I can advise the Deputy that my Department does not provide funding for community policing forums, but it does provide significant financial support for the national and regional operation of the Community Alert programme. Indeed, the funding provided by my Department for Community Crime Prevention initiatives, including the highly successful Garda Text Alert Scheme, has more than doubled in recent years. To be of assistance to the Deputy, I have asked the Garda authorities for further information in relation to the matters which he has raised and I will contact him directly when this is to hand.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A:
I refer to your Parliamentary Question No. 50 and No. 51 for answer on 9 February, 2017 where you asked for information in relation to:
"....the way in which community policing forums here are funded..."
and
"....the number of community policing forums in existence here....."
As the Deputy will recall, I was unable to respond fully at the time pending a report from the Garda authorities. I am now advised by the Garda authorities that there are currently 1,949 Neighbourhood Watch Schemes and 1,409 Community Alert schemes in operation nationwide. I am further advised that while there is no formal funding for Neighbourhood Watch Schemes, these are supported by the deployment of local Garda resources. As outlined in my previous response, my Department does not provide funding for community policing forums but it does provide significant funding for Community Crime Prevention initiatives, including the highly successful Garda Text Alert Scheme.
It may, of course, be possible for community based forums or groups to seek funding from a range of sources including community sector funding overseen by the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government.
I hope this information is of assistance and I apologise for the delay in responding.
52. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prosecutions for bogus self-employment for each of the years 2011 to 2016. [6485/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra53. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of convictions for bogus self-employment for each of the years 2011 to 2016. [6486/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 53 together.
As the Deputy is aware the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistics agency, is responsible for the compilation and publication of the official recorded crime statistics. It is unclear if the Deputy's question refers to a specific offence category and, in this regard, I am advised that the CSO are unable to provide the particular information sought in this instance.
54. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will outline the repercussions of the regulation of the European Parliament and the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2016/399 as regards the reinforcement of checks against relevant databases at external borders for Ireland. [6487/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra55. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the precautions her Department has made in preparation of the regulation of the European Parliament and the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2016/399 as regards the reinforcement of checks against relevant databases at external borders. [6488/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra56. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the precautions her Department is making for Ireland, post Brexit, in view of the regulation of the European Parliament and the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2016/399 as regards the reinforcement of checks against relevant databases at external borders. [6489/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 54 to 56, inclusive, together.
In relation to Regulation (EU) 2016/399, it is proposed that Article 8(2) of the Schengen Borders Code be amended to introduce systematic checks of European Union citizens at the external borders of the Schengen Area. This proposal constitutes a development of the border provisions of the Schengen acquis in which Ireland does not take part, in accordance with Council Decision 2002/192/EC. Ireland is not bound by the Regulation or subject to its application. When the amendments are introduced, Irish citizens will be subject to the same checks entering the Schengen Area as other European Union citizens.
Ireland continues to progress a broad series of initiatives to strengthen border security. For instance, since November 2016 an automated connection to INTERPOL’s Lost and Stolen Travel Documents database was rolled out to all international airports and seaports. In the first eight weeks of operating systematic checks against this Database over 700,000 documents were searched, with a number of people having been refused entry to Ireland on the basis of an alert on the system having been triggered.
Later this year the Irish immigration authorities will begin to process Advance Passenger Information on flights into the State from outside the EU and preparations are also underway to implement the EU Directive on Passenger Name Records (PNR). These systems will provide further protection for our borders against crime, terrorism and illegal immigration threats.
The Government is committed to providing An Garda Síochána with the necessary resources to enhance their connectivity to a range of EU and other international resources and significant work is ongoing in this regard. This includes connecting to the Schengen Information System (SIS II), participating in other EU measures such as PRUM, and Interpol information-sharing resources relevant to countering security threats.
Regarding the specific Regulation, Brexit does not impact on this as both Ireland and the UK are currently outside Schengen and this is not expected to change. I should point out that in the context of 'Brexit' while it is not possible at this juncture to say what arrangements will apply between the UK and the EU, particularly in respect of the movement of EU citizens (as this will ultimately be a matter that will feature within the negotiation process that will take place following the UK's formal notification to the European Council that it intends to leave), what I can make clear is that, while we will continue to maintain and enhance cooperation with the UK in relation to general immigration and border enforcement, Ireland of course remains a committed member of the European Union and will continue to uphold the right of free movement for all EU citizens after the UK leaves the Union.
57. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the level of expenditure by her Department or any organisation under the aegis of her Department for each of the years from 2005 to 2016, in tabular form, on photography, advertising, communications advice, public relations, website development, interview training and preparation, including details of the events, campaigns or policies to which this expenditure related, and the company or individual to whom such payments were made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6542/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to inform the Deputy that it has not been possible to collate the information required in the time available. The information will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is to hand.
58. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if all resettled refugees who have arrived here as part of the Irish refugee protection programme receive an orientation and language training programme as provided for on the Office for the Promotion of Migrant Integration website (details supplied). [6562/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Office for the Promotion of Migrant Integration of the Department of Justice and Equality coordinates the resettlement strand of the Irish Refugee Protection Programme.
The local Education and Training Board provides a language training and orientation programme for a period of 8 weeks for adult programme refugees admitted under the resettlement strand of the Irish Refugee Protection Programme and accommodated in one of the two Emergency Reception and Orientation Centres used by the programme i.e. the Hazel Hotel in Monasterevin and the Clonea Strand Hotel in Dungarvan. It is up to each adult to decide if they wish to attend this programme but attendance is strongly encouraged and participation levels are good. Persons over 16 years may also attend the adult programme but 16 - 17 year olds generally prefer to attend the local Community Schools with the other teenagers. Transport and childcare, where available, is provided to enable the adult residents in the Emergency Reception and Orientation Centres to attend the programme.
In exceptional circumstances where the arrival of refugees from the country of refuge is delayed, for example where an expectant mother cannot travel for the safety of her unborn child, that family may not receive the full orientation programme while resident in the centre. Such refugees prefer to move to the community when housing is available rather than remain in the reception centre for the purposes of continuing the initial orientation and training programme. The Education and Training Board will continue to provide a language training and orientation programme for up to one year post resettlement in the community. All topics covered in the initial orientation and language training programme are revisited during this period.
Transition arrangements are put in place in the Emergency Reception and Orientation Centres for children up to 12 years. Many children of this age have never attended mainstream education. The transition programme, which is run by qualified teachers, is designed to introduce children to normal school behaviours and practices and they also follow part of the mainstream curriculum and learn English. The objective is to prepare children for an easy transition to mainstream education when they move to the community.
Similar arrangements will be provided in the new Emergency Reception and Orientation Centres for asylum seekers admitted under the relocation programme from Italy and Greece.
59. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which the investigative procedures have been concluded relative to long-term residency and eligibility for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6610/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the processing of an application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy, who currently has permission to reside in the State until 21 February 2017, is ongoing with a view to establishing whether the conditions for naturalisation, such as good character and lawful residence are satisfied. There is no record of an application for long term residency.
As the Deputy will appreciate, the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.
It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. While most cases are now generally processed within six months, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time.
The Deputy may wish to note that queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been established specifically 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. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
60. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the procedures to be followed to regularise residency here in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6611/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that in accordance with Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999, the person concerned was notified by letter that the Minister proposed to make a Deportation Order in respect of them. They were given the options, to be exercised within 15 working days, of leaving the State voluntarily, of consenting to the making of a Deportation Order or of making representations to the Minister setting out the reasons why they should not have a Deportation Order made against them.
The position in the State of the person concerned will now be decided by reference to the provisions of Section 3 (6) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended) and all other applicable legislation. All representations submitted will be considered before a final decision is made.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department 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. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
61. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the procedures to be followed to regularise residency in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6612/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to his earlier Parliamentary Question, No 64 of Thursday, 2nd February, 2017 and the written Reply to that Question.
I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that, in response to a notification pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), the person concerned has not submitted written representations.
The position in the State of the person concerned will now be decided by reference to the provisions of Section 3 (6) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended) and all other applicable legislation. If any representations are submitted, they will be considered before a final decision is made.
The Deputy may wish to note that queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department 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. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
