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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 8 Mar 2001

Vol. 532 No. 3

Written Answers. - Work Permits.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

87 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of applications for work permits received in her Department from asylum seekers in the past 12 months; the number of such applications approved, rejected or pending; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7311/01]

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

88 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of applications for work permits in respect of refugees received in her Department in the past 12 months; the number approved, pending or rejected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7312/01]

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

89 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the average waiting time for the process of applications for work permits in her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7313/01]

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

90 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of applications for work permits received in her Department in the past 12 months; the number approved, rejected or pending; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7314/01]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 87 to 90, inclusive, together.

The issue of asylum seekers and refugees is a matter, in the first instance, for my colleague the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy O'Donoghue.

Asylum seekers are not, generally, permitted to work here pending determination of their case by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Section 9(4)(f2>b) of the Refugee Act, 1996, provides that an applicant for refugee status may not enter employment during the period before the final determination of his or her application.

If the individual concerned should prove successful in his or her application for refugee status he or she will not then require a work permit to take up employment here.

In relation to work permits, the current processing period is approximately four weeks. In the last 12 month period March 2000 to February 2001 the statistics are as follows:

Work Permits issued

21,786

Applications refused

404

Applications withdrawn

886

Applications on hand at 28/2/01

2,535

Total

25,611

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