Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 June 2022
678. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons to date who have applied for the current undocumented scheme; and the breakdown of those within the international protection strand and the more general scheme. [32287/22]
View answerAs of 20 June 2022, a total of 5,118 applications in respect of 6,484 people have been received under the main scheme for the Regularisation of Long Term Undocumented Migrants and 1,128 permissions have been issued to date to successful applicants.
Under the international protection stand of the scheme, 2,004 applications have been received to 17 June 2022 and 339 permissions have been granted to successful applicants. A further 393 people have been granted an equivalent permission by the International Protection Office (IPO) of my Department, under either the Permission to Remain (first instance) or Permission to Remain Review processes, before their applications under the scheme had been finalised.
My Department opened the once-in-a generation scheme for the Regularisation of Long Term Undocumented Migrants in the State on 31 January 2022 for a six month period to the 31 July 2022. The scheme is designed, following detailed engagement with the people affected, to give long-term undocumented people without a current immigration permission the chance to regularise their status, access the labour market and begin their path to citizenship.The scheme genuinely is a once-off, life-changing opportunity to obtain status in the State. I encourage everyone eligible for the scheme, who has not yet made an application, to do so before the closing date. I can assure people that we are examining applications pragmatically and humanely and we are considering all viable proofs of residence.If the Deputy is aware of someone who might be eligible for the scheme please encourage them to come forward. Applicants will be supported in a positive way and if they are not eligible for the scheme, other immigration options can be explored. To publicise the scheme, my Department commenced a targeted social media ad campaign across all of the main social media platforms directed at the top ten nationalities eligible under the scheme in their own native languages. This campaign will run until the scheme closes at the end of July. Further targeted communications are also being rolled out in physical locations, such as supermarkets and on bus shelters in locations around the country.
Full details regarding the qualifying criteria, a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document and the required documentation for the scheme is available on my Department's immigration services website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/regularisation-of-long-term-undocumented-migrant-scheme/.
The international protection strand is open for applications until 7 August 2022, and full details of the scheme is available at: www.ipo.gov.ie.
