Migrant permit delays in Cork making students feel ‘like prisoners’ in Ireland

Delays in renewing permits for non-EEA migrants is causing headaches for those involved, and deterring students from coming to Cork, while those in Dublin can renew simply online. Imasha Costa reports

David Russell: 'You can have a situation that a student is in communication with the school asking questions, prices, and all that, and then they later come back and say, they have decided to not come to [Cork or Limerick] because they heard of these problems with immigration.'

International students, especially those who travel to Ireland for English language courses, are “actively” choosing not to come to Cork due to extensive backlogs in renewing their residency permits, a college director has claimed.

“[The students] add to the vibrancy of Cork City, they also add to the economy, and they rent, work and pay taxes. They work in restaurants, bars, cafes, and offices, as home care assistants, and delivery drivers,” chairperson of the Progressive College Network (PCN), and director of NED college David Russell said.