There are a variety of reasons as to why people become undocumented and therefore the number of undocumented people in the State will fluctuate over time. There are no official studies or reports regarding the number of undocumented persons resident in the State as such people tend to avoid official notice.
However, the Migrant Rights Centre of Ireland, has previously estimated that there are some 15,000 to 17,000 undocumented people in the State including 2,000 to 3,000 children and these figures were cited when publishing estimates of the number of undocumented persons resident in the State. These are estimates based on their own research and are not based on official statistics or reports.
I am pleased to say that I recently published the final criteria for the Regularisation of Long Term Undocumented Migrants Scheme, which will open for applications on 31 January 2022. Applications will be accepted for six months until 31 July 2022 when the scheme will close. Further details are available on our website: www.irishimmigration.ie.
Question No. 1210 answered with Question No. 1179.
