Vol. 541 No. 5
172 Mr. Callely asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of asylum seekers who benefit from obtaining employment arising from the Government's decision of 26 July 1999; the number in gainful employment; the number in receipt of a social welfare payment; the number in training or work experience; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22593/01]
In general, asylum seekers do not have the right to work pending a final decision on their applications. However, as an exceptional measure, the Government agreed on 26 July 1999 that those asylum seekers who were in the State for more than 12 months at that date and who were awaiting a final decision on their application for refugee status should be given the right to work. The decision did not apply to persons who applied for asylum after 26 July 1999. Eligible asylum seekers were issued with letters by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform confirming entitlement to work for presentation to potential employers.
The Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs has advised that at the end of March 2001 of the 3,535 eligible to work, approximately 1,500 were no longer claiming unemployment assistance or social welfare assistance.
FÁS has advised that 1,636 persons have been placed in employment. However, some of these may have subsequently lost or left such employment. The number currently in training with FÁS is 196.
