Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 292: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform the position regarding foreign volunteer workers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3384/11]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to informed the Deputy that new guidelines for volunteer workers came into effect on 1 January 2011. These guidelines are available on the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service website (www.inis.gov.ie).

The three year duration applies only to volunteers who are permitted to enter the State on or after 1 January 2011. I do not intend at this time to extend this permission beyond three years.

For volunteers lawfully present in the State prior to 1 January 2011 the guidelines mean that those persons may have their immigration permission renewed annually subject to the person meeting certain conditions.