Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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535. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No 234 of 11 May 2023, if he will clarify, of the "450 approvals for beneficiaries", the number of applications to which this number relates; the number of the 528 applications that remain to be processed and completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24162/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Afghan Admission Programme offers temporary Irish residence to people whose freedom or safety is at risk, whether resident in Afghanistan or certain neighbouring countries having fled from Afghanistan since the 1 August 2021 and who have close family members in Ireland. The Programme closed for applications on the 11 March 2022.

A total of 528 applications in respect of 1,492 potential beneficiaries were received under the Afghan Programme

The 450 approvals for beneficiaries that have issued so far relate to 165 applications. No refusals have been issued yet.

There are currently 363 applications on hand. Decisions will issue on these remaining cases in the coming months.