Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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619. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if consideration will be given to reducing the fees for registration for the scheme for the regularisation for long-term undocumented migrants given that many of the applicants particularly those in direct provision have very limited means; the way that the scale of fees was arrived at; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8441/22]

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.

I am aware, particularly in the current economic climate, of the financial pressures that people are under. However, the fees payable by an applicant are designed to reflect the effort and cost involved in processing applications for the scheme which, given the benefits involved, is quite a detailed process.

A fee of €700 will generally apply to a family unit applications and children up to 23 years, living with their parent(s), can be included in a family unit application. A fee of €550 will apply to individual applications. There is no provision for the discretionary waiver or reduction of fees.

Successful applicants to the scheme will be required to register the permission granted and everyone over the age of 18 years will be required to pay a registration fee of €300, which is the standard registration fee applicable to all applicants.

The international protection strand of the regularisation scheme opened for applications on 7 February 2022 andapplications will be accepted for six months until 7 August 2022. This separate strand allows international protection applicants who have an outstanding application for international protection and have been in the asylum process for a minimum of two years to apply.

There is no fee for making an application under this dedicated strand of the scheme. Successful applicants to this strand of the scheme will be required to register their permission, however, no registration fee will apply.

Full details regarding the qualifying criteria, a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document and the required documentation for the scheme is available on my Department's website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/regularisation-of-long-term-undocumented-migrant-scheme/ and at www.ipo.gov.ie for the international protection strand.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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620. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if there will be a new scheme in the future to regularise the situation for undocumented persons already in the country but who are here for less than four years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8442/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I was pleased to open the landmark Regularisation of Long Term Undocumented Migrants Scheme for applications on 31 January. Applications will be accepted for six months until 31 July, when the scheme will close.

This once-in-a-generation scheme is designed to give long-term undocumented people without a current permission to remain in the State, the chance to regularise their status, access the labour market and begin their path to citizenship.

Almost 2,000 applications have been received so far. This is a very positive start and I encourage anyone who may be eligible to apply.

The criteria for the scheme have been designed in line with the Programme for Government commitment, which is to bring forward a regularisation scheme to create new pathways for long-term undocumented people and their dependents. The period of four years undocumented residence, or three years in the case of applicants with children, is consistent with this commitment and has been approved by Government. This is a once-off, time bound scheme that is expected to benefit thousands of undocumented people living in Ireland. There are no plans to introduce any other scheme or to extend the criteria.

The international protection strand of the scheme opened for applications on 7 February 2022 andapplications will be accepted for six months until 7 August 2022. This separate strand allows international protection applicants who have an outstanding application for international protection and have been in the asylum process for a minimum of two years to apply. My Department has recently written to 4,000 potentially eligible applicants inviting them to apply.

If a person is resident in the State without permission and does not meet the terms of the published schemes, I encourage them to contact my Department or their local immigration office and to take all appropriate steps to regularise their status. Any application submitted should explain their current circumstances and future intentions in the State and provide any documentation they feel will support their application.

Following receipt of such an application a full consideration of all aspects of their case will be carried out before a decision is made to grant permission to remain in the State or to make a Deportation Order. This will include a consideration of their private and family life rights, in accordance with the European Convention on Human Rights.

In all cases, people must engage with the authorities if they wish to be permitted to remain here legally. A pragmatic approach is taken in relation to each case, which is considered on its individual merits.