Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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241. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will outline the reason for delay in regularisation of the long-term undocumented migrants scheme; when the remaining outstanding applications will be finalised; if he will provide a breakdown of nationalities who get approval and who are still waiting for their applications to be finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6219/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Regularisation of Long Term Undocumented Migrants scheme opened on 31 January 2022 and closed on 31 July 2022. This once in a generation scheme was 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. The scheme was only open to those who did not have a current permission to reside in the State and would enable eligible applicants to remain and reside in the State and to regularise their residency status.

In total, 6,548 applications were submitted in respect of 8,311 people under the scheme. Of these 5,654 (86%) were Single Applications and 894 (14%) Family Applications. 5,368 people who applied to the scheme have been issued a decision, of which 5,197 (97 %) are positive decisions, 97 (2%) are negative decisions, and 74 (1%) applications have been withdrawn by the applicants for various reasons.

It is not possible to provide a definitive timeframe for when the outstanding applications will be finalised. Applications continue to be processed and processing times vary depending on the complexity of the application; whether it is a single or family application; the supporting documentation and the vetting process with An Garda Síochána (AGS). Applications where there is an existing deportation order require additional processing. Each application received is assessed individually in accordance with the published criteria, available on my Department's immigration website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Undocumented-Policy-Scheme-January-2022.pdf.

The table below is a list of nationalities who have applied to the Regularisation of Long Term Undocumented Migrants scheme. To date, the majority of these nationalities have had cases approved, however some may still have applications pending.