Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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497. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will ensure that the remaining pending applications to the long-term undocumented migrant scheme will be processed without delay; if he will provide details of the number of outstanding applications remaining and the resources allocated to process them in a timely manner; if he will provide a timeframe for when the processing of applications will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6761/23]

Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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516. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide an update on the regularisation of long-term undocumented migrant scheme; the number of people who applied to the scheme before it closed; the number of people who were regularised following an application to the scheme; the number of people who had their applications rejected; if there are plans to reopen the scheme at a future date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7089/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 497 and 516 together.

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 opportunity 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 Stat.

The Undocumented Unit of my Department received 6,548 applications in respect of 8,311 people under the scheme. Of these 5,654 (86%) were Single Applications and 894 (14%) Family Applications. Almost 70% or 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of which 5,197 (97 %) are positive decisions, 97 (2%) are negative decisions, and 74 (1%) applications have been withdrawn by the applicants for various reasons.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 will 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 scheme has now closed and although it will not reopen, where a person remains resident in the State without an immigration permission I encourage them to contact the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) or their local immigration office and to take all the appropriate steps to regularise their status. In all cases, people must engage with the authorities if they wish to be permitted to remain here legally.