2373. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of student visa applications made to his Department in each year from 2020 to date in 2026; the number of refusals made by applicant country of origin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61844/26]

The figures requested by Deputy are set out in the tables below. It should be noted that my Department does not collate information on the type of course being undertaken. The tables below are for all study visas including those attending fee paying secondary schools, English language coursed and third level institutions.

Table 1. All study visas received, granted and refused 2020 - 2026 (up to 31/08)

* Please note, figures are correct at time of issue, however, all statistics may be subject to data cleansing.

* A decision made in a particular year may relate to an application received in a previous year.

* The above figures are for decisions at first instance only. An applicant that receives a negative decision may appeal and be subsequently granted at appeal. These figures are not included.

Table 2. Top 5 countries with the highest number of study visa refusals from 2020 - 2026 (up to 31/08)

* Please note, information is correct at time of issue, however, all statistics may be subject to data cleansing.

The Programme for Government 2025 contains a commitment to publish a National Migration and Integration Strategy detailing how we intend to meet the demands and the opportunities facing Ireland’s society and economy over the next decade. My Department is working with other Government departments to develop this strategy with the aim to publish Ireland’s first overarching whole-of-government National Migration and Integration Strategy in 2026.

As part of this strategic approach, I am reviewing the area of student permissions, with a particular focus on English Language students. This work is aimed at ensuring that the system remains robust and rules-based, supports high-quality education providers, and continues to offer a positive experience for genuine students coming to Ireland. Ireland welcomes international students who wish to travel here in order to pursue a course of study, thereby providing economic and other benefits to Ireland, as well of course as to the students themselves.