Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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615. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will address a series of matters in relation to the regularisation scheme application process for asylum seekers (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4909/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Regularisation of Long Term Undocumented Migrants Scheme opened for applications on 31 January 2022. Applications will be accepted for six months until 31 July 2022, when the scheme will close. The scheme is only open to those who do not have a current permission to reside in the State and will enable eligible applicants to remain and reside in the State and to regularise their residency status.

As previously announced, international protection applicants who have an outstanding application for international protection and have been in the asylum process for a minimum of two years will have a separate application process. The International Protection Office of my Department will contact potentially eligible applicants shortly with further details, which will also be made available on the website www.ipo.gov.ie. There will also be a six month application window for this strand of the scheme from the date it is launched.

Applications will be assessed independently of the application that has been made for international protection. There is no requirement for the applicant to withdraw their international protection application, although some may choose to do so, if successful under this scheme.