Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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160. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if her Department’s regularisation scheme will be delivered by the end of 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59405/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Government committed to introducing new pathways to status regularisation within 18 months of its formation.  My Justice Plan 2021 also contains a commitment to create new pathways for long-term undocumented people and their dependents who must meet specified criteria to regularise their status.

I intend to publish details of the scheme shortly.

The scheme, which is a once in a generation opportunity, will provide, for those who meet its criteria, permission to remain and reside in the State and to become part of mainstream Irish society rather than living on its margins.

Successful applicants will receive an immigration permission, access to the labour market and will be able, in due course, to apply to become Irish citizens, should they wish to do so.