Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 September 2020
649. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the number of applications that have been received for a labour market access permission since the European Communities (Receptions Conditions) Regulations 2018 came into effect on 30 June 2018; the number refused; the number granted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24938/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra650. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the average processing time for applications for a labour market access permission pursuant to the European Communities (Receptions Conditions) Regulations 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24939/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra651. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the longest period of time it has taken to process an application for labour market access permission pursuant to the European Communities (Receptions Conditions) Regulations 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24940/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra652. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the percentage of applications for labour market access permissions that have taken longer than one month to process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24941/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 649 to 652, inclusive, together.
The European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018, transposing the EU (Recast) Reception Conditions Directive, came into effect from 30 June 2018. The Regulations provide, inter alia, for access to the labour market for eligible international protection applicants. An applicant who has not received a first instance decision on their international protection application within 9 months from the date of application can make an application for a labour market access permission.
Applications are made to the Labour Market Access Unit (LMAU) of the Immigration Service of my Department. If the application is successful, a labour market access permission, once granted, is valid for 6 months from the date of issue and can be renewed until a final decision is made on an applicant’s international protection application.
Up to and including 16 September 2020, a total of 7,328 applications have been received for a labour market access permission. Of these, 1,811 have been refused and 5,322 have been granted to date. The other 195 applications are pending. The pending figure includes applications which have not yet reached the 9 months criterion, and those where the return of requested supporting documents is awaited. The majority of cases pending are ultimately granted.
The average processing time for these 7,328 applications is 11.1 days. 4,590 (62.6%) have been processed within 1 week of receipt, while 666 (9%) have taken longer than 30 days to process. The remaining 2,072 (28.4%) applications have been processed in 8-30 days.
Generally, for any application that takes longer than a week to process, the delay is attributable to the applicant. For example, some applications are received in an incomplete form or are missing required documentation. In such cases, the LMAU engages further with the applicant and the application remains open until a response is received and a decision is possible.
The changed administrative working arrangements arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, means that postal applications are taking longer to process than those received by email. The LMAU is currently processing emailed applications within one week of receipt. Due to the administrative restrictions and reduced time spent in the office by administering officials resulting from COVID-19, postal applications are taking longer to be processed.
The LMAU is encouraging applicants to email their applications and this is notified on the relevant section of the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) website. Additionally, LMAU has engaged with NGO’s and legal representatives of intending applicants to encourage email applications where possible.
