Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 June 2017
822. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of international students registered with the Garda National Immigration Bureau between 2005 and 2011; the top five nationalities in each year; the respective numbers of registrations of each in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28066/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraA significant amount of the statistical data requested by the Deputy was provided in response to Parliamentary Questions 677 and 678 dated 6th June 2012. A copy of that reply is reproduced below.
It would take a disproportionate amount of staff resource time to extract the breakdown of nationalities by year as requested by the Deputy. However, I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service of my Department that the top five nationalities of international students for the years in question include China, Brazil, India, Mauritius and Pakistan.
Response to PQs on 6th June 2012.
Statistics on non-EEA student registration are available from 2006. The total number of registrations on student immigration permission was 32,876 in 2006; 39,720 in 2007; 44,942 in 2008; 45,518 in 2009; 45,460 in 2010; and 46,509 in 2011. It should be noted that these figures cover both existing permissions carried over from the previous year. Students on visits of less than 90 days, however, are not included as such persons are not required to register.
At present, it is not possible to accurately differentiate between the different education sectors and levels. The Deputy will be aware that the new immigration regime for full-time non-EEA students was introduced in January 2011 and that before this date, the Internationalisation Register of courses was not categorised into Degree courses and Language or Non-Degree Courses.
However, an analysis of the student records carried out in March 2012 provides a breakdown of non-EEA students with reference to the type of course students are registered as attending. Approximately 28% of students are undertaking English language courses, 20% non-degree programmes; and 40% degree programmes. The remaining 11% includes students at secondary level, students on Graduate Schemes and those on Timed Out student permission.
