Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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271. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the processing of applications for working holiday authorisations from the USA to Ireland has recommenced; if not, when the processing of such applications will recommence; if applications are currently being accepted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25283/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Working Holiday Authorisations (WHAs) play an important role in building Ireland’s bilateral relations with a number of non-European countries and regions by encouraging people-to-people contacts. The Department of Foreign Affairs administers nine such programmes with Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea and the United States. The WHAs facilitate young people or recent graduates from these locations to experience Ireland’s culture and way of life during a working holiday here while, reciprocally, Irish people can enjoy similar experiences abroad.

The processing of Working Holiday applications by our Missions abroad has been temporarily suspended since the pandemic restrictions were introduced. Our Missions in the United States continue to accept applications, and these will remain on file until the processing of applications resumes.

During the pandemic, our primary concern in this regard has been the health, welfare and wellbeing of our citizens currently on working holidays abroad and of those from other countries in Ireland under WHAs. Throughout the pandemic, our Missions abroad have provided assistance in repatriating many of these Irish citizens, and our Missions continue to assist those who remained abroad.

We continue to monitor the rapidly evolving situation here and in the relevant locations abroad, in terms particularly of public health advice, travel restrictions, job opportunities and the availability of short-term accommodation. We will instruct our Missions abroad to resume the processing of applications and issuance of authorisations once circumstances allow young people to benefit from a working holiday here and to fully experience Ireland’s culture and way of life safely.