Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 December 2019
304. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if a refund of the fee for a general employment permit can be offered if the employment permit is issued but the visa application is refused; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53129/19]
View answerThe Employment Permits Section of my Department inform me that the fees for a General Employment Permit are €500 for a permit of duration of six months or less, and €1,000 for a permit of duration of up to 24 months. The fee levels conform to the cost recovery principle, which provides that the full cost of activities and services are recovered in the medium term.
My officials inform me that 90% of any fees paid is refundable when an Employment Permit application is withdrawn or refused. An employment permit is issued when all the qualifying conditions are satisfied. The current employment permits legislation does not, however, provide for a refund after an employment permit has issued if, for reasons entirely separate from the employment permit process, an immigration permission is refused by the Department of Justice and Equality. This issue is being considered in the context of the development of the new Employment Permit (Consolidation and Amendment) Bill.
Immigration permissions, including the refusal of visas, are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality, and any such queries should be directed to that Department.
