Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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182. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if front-line workers employed by the HSE that are not citizens of Ireland can have their residency and work permits extended automatically to 1 September 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6106/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I recognise and acknowledge the crucial role frontline workers are continuing to play in responding to the threat of COVID-19. They work in a challenging environment and deal with vulnerable people on a daily basis. Their exceptional commitment has been particularly clear throughout the pandemic, during which they have been playing a key role in preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus. 

Due to the restrictions imposed as a result of the pandemic, my predecessor and I have provided six emergency extensions of immigration permission to 20 April 2021, to ensure that those requiring an immigration permission to work in the state could continue to do so including those providing frontline services. At this time there is no plan for any further automatic extension of immigration permissions but the situation will be kept under review.

All registration renewals in the Dublin area are now being processed online only and the system has been available for all applicants since 20 July 2020 at . Last December, the requirement to include a passport as part of an application was removed. This reduces the time taken to process the application and eliminates the associated cost of the registered post when sending the passport as part of the application.

Renewals of registrations for persons residing outside of the Dublin area are processed by the Garda National Immigration Bureau through the Garda Station network.  Information on the contact details for all the registration offices outside Dublin is available at: https://www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/office-of-corporate-communications/news-media/reopening-of-registration-offices.html. 

Employment permits are a matter for the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment (DETE). However, I understand that in March 2020, the Employment Permits Section of that Department implemented a COVID-19 contingency plan to ensure that the employment permit regime could continue to operate seamlessly throughout the crisis. Since 30 March 2020, the employment permits system has been operating fully remotely and online. Agreement was also reached between the Immigration Service of my Department and DETE to introduce, on a temporary basis, a type of “e-employment permit” and a similar soft copy process to transition to permanent residence permission. 

Further details on employment permits are available on the DETE website at: .