Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 March 2023
185. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Justice the average processing time, in months, for applications currently being processed in 2023 by the undocumented unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11640/23]
View answerThe Regularisation of Long Term Undocumented Migrants scheme opened on 31 January 2022 and closed on 31 July 2022. This once in a generation scheme was designed to give long-term undocumented people without a current permission to remain in the State, the chance to regularise their status, access the labour market and begin their path to citizenship. The scheme was only open to those who did not have a current permission to reside in the State and enabled eligible applicants to remain and reside in the State and to regularise their residency status.
In total, 6,548 applications were submitted in respect of 8,311 people under the scheme. Of these 5,654 (86%) were Single Applications and 894 (14%) Family Applications. As of 6 March 2023, 5,865 people who applied to the scheme have been issued a decision, of which 5,372 (91%) are positive decisions, 391 (7%) are negative decisions, and 102 (2%) applications have been withdrawn by the applicants for various reasons.
The average processing time for cases processed in 2023 by the Undocumented Unit is 9.4 months.
Applications continue to be processed and processing times vary depending on the complexity of the application; whether it is a single or family application; the supporting documentation and the vetting process with An Garda Síochána (AGS). Applications where there is an existing deportation order require additional processing.
Each application received is assessed individually in accordance with the published criteria, available on my Department's immigration website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Undocumented-Policy-Scheme-January-2022.pdf.
