Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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16. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will amend the regularisation of the long-term undocumented migrants' scheme for undocumented persons to reduce the €850 application fee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26060/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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My Department opened the once-in-a generation scheme for the Regularisation of Long Term Undocumented Migrants in the State on 31 January 2022 for a six month period. The scheme is designed, following detailed engagement with the people affected, to give long-term undocumented people without a current immigration permission the chance to regularise their status, access the labour market and begin their path to citizenship.

The scheme genuinely is a once-off, life-changing opportunity to obtain status in the State. I encourage everyone eligible for the scheme, who has not yet made an application, to do so before the closing date. I can assure people that we are examining applications pragmatically and humanely and we are considering all viable proofs of residence.

If the Deputy or any Deputy in the House is aware of someone who might be eligible for the scheme please encourage them to come forward. Applicants will be supported in a positive way and if they are not eligible for the scheme, other immigration options can be explored. 

To publicise the scheme, my Department has recently commenced a targeted social medial ad campaign across all of the main social media platforms directed at the top 10 nationalities eligible under the scheme in their own native languages. This campaign will run until the scheme closes at the end of July.

I am aware, particularly in the current economic climate, of the financial pressures that everyone is under. However, the fees payable by an applicant for this scheme 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 €550 applies to individual applications. A fee of €700 applies to a family unit application. Children up to 23 years of age, living with their parent or parents, can be included in a family unit application.  There is no provision for the discretionary waiver or reduction of fees for the scheme. 

Successful applicants to the scheme will also be required to register their permission granted. Anyone over the age of 18 years will also be required to pay a registration fee of €300, which is the standard immigration registration fee.

The separate international protection strand of the scheme, which opened for applications on 7 February 2022, has no fee for making an application or for subsequently registering a permission granted.

I am delighted to say that across both strands of the scheme over 800 people have now received a positive decision on their application.