Minister for Education Mary Hanafin yesterday published details of 2,700 courses where international students will be allowed to work part-time while pursuing their studies in Ireland.
The new register of programmes allows for working visas to be granted to new students from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) who are enrolled on recognised full-time courses of at least one year's duration.
For the purposes of inclusion on the register, the academic year is equivalent to 25 weeks, not 52.
Full-time programmes covered by the register include certificate and diploma courses offering qualifications in areas such as business, science and computers.These are provided by both public and private third-level and further education colleges.
A second category covered by the new register relates to English language courses which participate in a quality assurance/inspection scheme run by the Advisory Council for English Language Schools.
However the association of recognised English language schools (MEI-RELSA) yesterday warned that while the new register represents a "positive step forward", it also needed to be accompanied by a major publicity campaign.
This should aim to undo what it claims is the damage caused to the English language sector by new visa rules for non-EEA students which also came into effect yesterday.
"The message needs to be put out there that if you go to one of the [ programmes] published today, you will be able to work part-time. But if you don't attend a registered course, then you won't," said MEI-RELSA spokesman Tom Doyle.
MEI-RELSA also believes the Government should ask its embassies to promote the new register, and look for it to be posted on official Government websites in other countries.
Students attending programmes which appear on the register should also be "fast-tracked" for visas. Visas were still being issued to unrecognised schools, Mr Doyle added.
Under the new visa rules which took effect yesterday, new students from outside the EEA looking to study here will only be permitted to work if they are attending full-time courses which run for at least one academic year.