Written answers
Thursday, 25 February 2021
Department of Justice and Equality
Immigrant Investor Programme
Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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231. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the review of the immigrant investor programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10912/21]
Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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232. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of applicants to the immigrant investor programme from 2012 to date; the number of those applicants who have been successful since 2012 to date in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10913/21]
Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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233. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of applications that have been made for the immigrant investor programme via the enterprise, investment, REIT and endowment options up to the end of January 2021; the breakdown for each of those options in each period for 2020, in tabular form; the number of applications in 2018 and 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10914/21]
Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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234. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of applications for the immigrant investor programme via the enterprise, investment, REIT and endowment options that have been approved up to the end of January 2021 for 2019 and 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10915/21]
Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 231 to 234, inclusive, together.
The Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) was introduced in April 2012 to encourage inward investment and create business and employment opportunities in the State. The programme provides investors with the opportunity to invest in Ireland. Key to the programme is that the investments are beneficial for Ireland, generate or sustain employment and are generally in the public interest.
Successful applicants under the IIP and their nominated family members may be granted a residence permission in Ireland under Stamp 4 conditions. Stamp 4 conditions permit non-EEA nationals to work, study or start their own businesses in Ireland. Therefore, given the significant immigration benefits accruing it is essential that all applications are subject to a robust due diligence process in respect of both personal and financial checks to protect the State's interests. In this regard, a number of enhanced control mechanisms have been introduced to the Programme within the past 12 months.
The IIP has been subject to a number of reviews, both internal and external, in recent years. Following a tender process, a contract to carry out an external review was signed in June 2019. This review was to be carried out in two phases. The Terms of Reference for the review are published on the Immigration Service website at: .
The second phase of the review has recently been completed and is being considered by my Department. In the meantime, applications under the IIP continue to be assessed by an independent evaluation committee and, where assessed positively, are accepted and processed.
The table below provides details of the applications received and the numbers of approvals issued since 2012.
Year | Applications received | Applications approved |
---|---|---|
2012 | 5 | 2 |
2013 | 18 | 16 |
2014 | 30 | 8 |
2015 | 75 | 71 |
2016 | 333 | 32 |
2017 | 324 | 373 |
2018 | 423 | 156 |
2019 | 442 | 237 |
2020 | 340 | 267 |
2021 to date | 26 | 18 |
TOTAL | 2016 | 1,197 |
Committee on the basis that they no longer provided value for money.
I have set out in the table below details of the applications that have been made for the immigrant investor programme via the enterprise investment, investment fund, REIT and endowment options up to the end of January 2021; the breakdown for each of those options in each period for 2020 2019 and 2018.
Investment Type | Applications received to date | Applications received in 2020 | Applications received in 2019 | Applications received in 2018 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Enterprise Investment | 1120 | 103 | 145 | 318 |
Investment Fund | 286 | 61 | 74 | 30 |
REIT | 8 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
Endowment | 533 | 175 | 219 | 74 |
Investment Type | Approved 2019 | Approved 2020 | Approved January 2021 |
---|---|---|---|
Enterprise Investment | 168 | 76 | 5 |
Investment Fund | 19 | 45 | 6 |
REIT | 1 | 3 | 0 |
Endowment | 49 | 143 | 7 |
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