John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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881. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality since reform in January 2021, how many international protection applicants have sought work after six months of waiting for a decision on their international protection application; and the percentage of international protection applicants that are currently in employment. [27484/23]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Since its introduction in June 2018, under the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018 (S.I. No. 230 of 2018), the labour market access permission issued by my Department has had a very positive impact for international protection applicants and employers alike. Over 16,000 first labour market access permissions have been granted to date.

The waiting period for labour market access for international protection applicants was reduced to 6 months and the validity of a labour market access permission was extended to 12 months from the date of issue, with effect from 9 February 2021. The permission may be renewed until a final decision is made on the person's international protection application.

This permission gives eligible applicants the opportunity to work and helps them to integrate into Irish society while providing for themselves and their families outside of the State’s directly provided services and supports. It also helps people to plan and prepare for their future in Ireland if they receive a positive decision on their application for international protection.

From January 2021 to 31st May 2023, 11,894 first-time applications and 4,944 renewal applications have been received. In total, since 2018 6,222 separate individuals have returned at least one LMA5 form, which records that they had found employment at some point over that time. However, records are not maintained in a manner that would enable the Department to give a breakdown of persons currently in the international protection process who are in employment at this point in time.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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883. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of beneficiaries of temporary protection accommodated in County Donegal, broken down by townlands and from where they have come; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27504/23]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I can inform the Deputy, as of 4 June 2023, 84,202 beneficiaries have been granted temporary protection in Ireland.

Temporary Protection in Ireland applies to the following groups of people who have had to flee Ukraine due to the invasion by Russia:

1. Ukrainian nationals who were residing in Ukraine before 24 February 2022;

2. Nationals of a third country (other than Ukraine) or a stateless person who would have benefited from international protection (for example: Refugee status) or an equivalent national protection status in Ukraine and were residing there before 24 February 2022;

3. Family members of persons covered by a) and b), where their family already existed in Ukraine, prior to 24 February.

Family members include a spouse or partner, unmarried minor children of either of them, and their other close dependent family relatives who have been living with them as part of the family unit before 24 February 2022.

My Department does not hold the information requested by the Deputy in relation to the breakdown of the regions of Ukraine that those arriving to claim Temporary Protection have travelled from.

I can also advise the Deputy that queries in relation to location of accommodation for temporary protection applicants are appropriate to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.