Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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1062. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the steps he has taken in response to the recommendation in the Report of the Advisory Group on the Provision of Support including Accommodation to Persons in the International Protection Process to lift the restrictions on the right to work to allow all asylum seekers to work. [12776/23]

Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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1064. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if, following report of the Advisory Group on the Provision of Support including Accommodation to Persons in the International Protection Process, there are plans to lift the restrictions on the right to work on all asylum seekers. [12887/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1062 and 1064 together.

Since its introduction in June 2018, under the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018 (S.I. No. 230 of 2018), the labour market access permission issued by my Department has had a very positive impact for international protection applicants and employers alike. Over 13,000 first labour market access permissions have been granted to date.

This permission gives eligible applicants the opportunity to work and helps them to integrate into Irish society while providing for themselves and their families outside of the State’s directly provided services and supports. It also helps people to plan and prepare for their future in Ireland if they receive a positive decision on their application for international protection.

The Regulations provide access to both employment and self-employment for any applicant who has not received a first instance decision within six months of making their international protection application, provided that this situation cannot be attributed, or attributed in part, to the applicant.

The European Communities (Reception Conditions) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (S.I. No. 52 of 2021) reduced the waiting period for labour market access for international protection applicants to 6 months and extended the validity of a labour market access permission to 12 months, with effect from 9 February 2021.

Regarding the reduction in the waiting period for access to the labour market to 3 months as recommended by the Catherine Day Report, the reduction of the waiting period to 6 months was guided by the Report of the Inter-Departmental Group on Direct Provision and the Review of Access to the Labour Market for persons seeking international protection.

The review of access to the labour market also recommended that the changes implemented should be reviewed 1 year after implementation and that a qualitative survey be carried out on the effects of the change in policy since 2018. The Department of Justice has undertaken a qualitative study of the experiences of international protection applicants in accessing the labour market, which will inform the quantitative element of the overall study, with a view to publishing the final report in due course.