Question
163.
Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide, in tabular form, the number of student visas issued in the Irish Embassy in Beijing in China for students on co-operative programmes with Irish higher education institutions and institutes of technology for the years 2008 to 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29383/15]
164.
Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide, in tabular form, the number of visa applications received, approved, and refused in the Irish Embassy in Beijing in China for universities and institutes of technology, other third levels, further education colleges and secondary schools for the years 2009 to 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29384/15]
165.
Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide, in tabular form, the number of visa applications received, approved and refused in the Irish Embassy in Beijing in China for accreditation and co-ordination of English language services approved language schools, and for other English language schools for the years 2009 to 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29385/15]
Answer
Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): I propose to take Questions Nos. 163 to 165, inclusive, together.
I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that it is not possible to extract a statistical breakdown of study visas by type of college or course from its automated systems. Prior to the introduction of the system in 2008 only limited statistical information was recorded at individual offices worldwide. Accordingly, the information sought by the Deputy for the years 2008 to 2009 is not available.
I can, however, advise the Deputy that the total number of visas granted and refused for study purposes in Beijing for the years 2010 to 2014 is as follows.
Study visas granted in Beijing 2010-14
| Year | Granted | Refused |
| 2010 | 1,142 | 152 |
| 2011 | 1,063 | 108 |
| 2013 | 1,287 | 148 |
| 2012 | 1,207 | 143 |
| 2014 | 1,289 | 107 |
The Deputy should note that these figures include a small number of applications from Mongolian nationals which are also processed in Beijing.