Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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391. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of applications for employment permits from asylum seekers that have been made in the past month; and the number of successful applications. [12065/18]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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From 9th February 2018 International Protection applicants have the right to apply for an employment permit. This is an interim measure until Ireland opts into the EU (recast) Reception Conditions Directive.

To date no applications for an employment permit have been received from International Protection applicants by my Department.

The Department of Justice and Equality inform me that on 9th February 2018 it established a self-employment scheme for those who have sought International Protection in Ireland that are waiting more than nine months for a first instance decision on their application.

As of the morning of 8 March, the Department of Justice and Equality had received 251 applications for self-employment and 172 of those applications had been granted.