Children of Non-EEA Students attending State Schools

The following immigration arrangements now apply in respect of children of non-EEA students attending State schools.

Unaccompanied Students

1. Unaccompanied non-EEA children who were studying in Ireland as part of the 2007-2008 school year in a State school will be permitted to continue their schooling in the State for the 2008-2009 year. Extensions of permission to remain after completion of that school year will only be permitted with the express written approval of the Department of Education and Science.

Children of non-EEA students

2. Where non-EEA students have enrolled their children in State schools and the child was already in education for some or all of the 2007-2008 school year, and the parent can demonstrate that they have partially completed their own course, the child will be permitted to remain in education until the completion of their parent's course, provided that the parent's course completes on or before July 2010. Parents may not enrol in new courses or transfer between courses. Where the parent's course ends in the middle of a school year, the parent's registration cannot be extended solely for the purpose of allowing the child to finish the year.

3. First time students presenting for registration with the Garda National Immigration Bureau in Autumn 2008 will be asked to confirm that they are neither accompanied by children nor do they intend to have their children join them later on. If they are unable to meet this requirement they will not be registered unless the placement of the child in education has been expressly approved in writing by the Department of Education and Science or the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

29 July 2008