Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Start-Up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) was established by Government in 2012 to stimulate productive investment in Ireland. The Programme enables non-EEA nationals outside of the State, and their families, who commit to establishing a high potential start-up (HPSU) business in Ireland to acquire a secure residency status in the State. The programme is particularly aimed at start-up enterprises in the innovation sector.

Further information is available on my Department's website here: www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-work-in-ireland/what-are-my-options-for-working-in-ireland/coming-to-work-for-more-than-90-days/start-up-entrepreneur-programme-step/

An independent evaluation committee consisting of senior public and civil servants is responsible for evaluating the suitability of applicant proposals. The evaluation committee consider the proposal and may seek further information from the candidate if required. The evaluation committee then make recommendations to the Minister for Justice as to the suitability of each proposal.

The below table outlines the applications.

*Decisions issued in any year may relate to applications which were received in previous years due to the time taken to process applications.