Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 July 2021
109. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice her plans to remove the period of residence requirements with regard to the forthcoming scheme to regularise undocumented migrants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36760/21]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, proposals for a draft scheme to regularise undocumented migrants are being developed in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government to bring forward a regularisation scheme within 18 months of the formation of the Government. This will create new pathways for long-term undocumented people and their dependents. Applicants will need to meet specific criteria and these will be formed with a clear consideration of Ireland's European Union (EU) and Common Travel Area (CTA) commitments.
My Department has conducted a wide-ranging public consultation on the proposed scheme which has provided a valuable opportunity to hear from those effected by the proposed approach to the scheme. My objective is to ensure that the scheme is as inclusive as possible.
Following the consultation process the Department continues to work to finalise the details, including eligibility considerations and qualifying criteria, and also to design and manage the practical aspects to enable applications to be made and processed as efficiently as possible. The specific qualifying criteria will be guided by, among other things, the learning from previous regularisation schemes, such as the 2018 Student Scheme, and schemes operated by other EU Member States.
As outlined in the Justice Plan 2021, the scheme will be opened to applications before the end of year.
