RECOMMENDATIONS on a new immigration regime for full-time non-EEA students will be presented “within weeks”, Justice Minister Dermot Ahern recently told the Dáil.
Last September, a consultation paper on the issue was published which proposed a cap on the length of time a student can spend in Ireland, and the introduction of a tighter inspection regime alongside possible changes to the visa rules.
According to Minister Ahern, these proposals are being “reviewed” by an interdepartmental committee on student immigration, which is expected to present its recommendations within weeks.
He said that while he agreed there is “great merit” in seeking international business through providing educational facilities in Ireland, it should be done “in the context of ensuring that our immigration system is absolutely sacrosanct”.
The minister said that the student visa system is being abused by some attempting to come to Ireland for work.
“Unfortunately, there have been cases in which this has been abused,” said Minister Ahern. “On inspection some time ago, a college in Dublin 8 had no desks, whiteboards, blackboards, books or papers. The so-called principal was unwilling to open the doors of the college, which effectively was being used as residential accommodation.
“At another college in Cork that was visited, none of the 70 so-called students who were registered was in attendance. The excuse given was that the students were off on their mid-term break.
“This site was visited again during the following month, when only eight students out of 59 were in attendance.”
USI: New Govt measures must not affect genuine students
The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) says the co-ordinated manner in which the Government is examining structures relating to international students is “positive”.
The body’s equality officer Linda Kelly adds that the USI “supports” any clampdown on bogus language schools.
However, according to Kelly, this can be done without affecting genuine students. And the USI says current proposals before the interdepartmental committee examining the issue could rebound on such students – and the exchequer.
“In terms of trying to clamp down on bogus colleges, we support that,” Kelly told Metro Éireann. “But there is also a proposed quality mark, which if implemented and monitored, would weed out non-genuine service providers.”
She said the proposal to cap the amount of time spent studying here – suggested at five years – “appears to be somewhat arbitrary”, and added: “Such a cap is unnecessary if a student can demonstrate genuine progression through the levels of education set out by the National Qualifications Framework.”
The equality officer concluded that international students spend “huge amounts” on their studies in Ireland, but the current system can be “unfriendly and discouraging”.
In particular, the Department of Justice, said Kelly, should be more proactive in seeking the opinion of international students.
She noted that the USI had written to Justice Minister Dermot Ahern proposing that the body establish focus groups which the department could seek interaction with, but “a standard letter” of acknowledgement was received in response.
