Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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129. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if her Department or organisations under the aegis of her Department has conducted or commissioned research or public polling on the commitment to introduce a regularisation process for the undocumented or on aspects of the regularisation proposals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3679/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Proposals for the Regularisation of Long Term Undocumented Migrants Scheme and the applicable criteria were developed by my Department in line with the published Programme for Government commitment.

The Programme for Government commits to bringing forward a regularisation scheme within 18 months of the formation of the Government, to create new pathways for long-term undocumented people and their dependents. Furthermore, it specifies that applicants will need to meet specific criteria and these will be formed with a clear consideration of Ireland's European Union and Common Travel Area commitments.

In developing the scheme, my Department was informed by research into previous national regularisation schemes implemented by my Department; programmes in other EU Member States; consultation with key civil society and NGO stakeholders; and engagement with Government Departments, as appropriate.

The policy document for the scheme, along with a range of further documentation, is available on the my Department's Irish Immigration website at www.irishimmigration.ie.

The scheme will open for applications on 31 January 2022. Applications will be accepted for six months until 31 July 2022, when the scheme will close.

The scheme will only be open to those who are long-term undocumented in accordance with the criteria and to certain international protection applicants who can apply under a separate strand of the scheme, details of which will be published shortly.