Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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515.To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide clarity regarding the placement of people seeking temporary international protection at Bert House, Athy, as the residents have still not received work permits despite being told were told it would take three months to issue them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25323/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I understand the Deputy's question relates to people seeking International Protection.

Under the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018 (S.I. No. 230 of 2018), persons are eligible to apply for labour market access permission if:

* They are an international protection applicant; and

* They have waited at least 5 months from their “Application Received” date for their first instance recommendation; and

* They are cooperating with the international protection process – delays in receiving a recommendation must not be attributable to the applicant.

Following that, a person will be issued a permission for labour market access if, at 6 months, they have not yet received a first instance recommendation. This permission is valid for 12 months and may be renewed until a final decision is made on the person's international protection application.

From February 2024 the process of applying for Labour Market Access for International Protection applicants has moved to the International Protection Office (IPO) with a new online application process. The new system has provided a more streamlined process and shorter processing times for all new applications. The current processing time for these applications is 8 weeks.

All applications made prior to the this date, are being processed by the Immigration Service Delivery and are being dealt with in chronological order. This system is currently processing applications made in February 2024 and the processing time for these are approximately 17 weeks.

A significant increase in the number of applications was experienced during 2023, reflecting the increase of overall applications for international protection received since 2022. There has also been an increase in renewal applications.

The immigration services of the Department utilise the resources available in order to ensure that applications are processed in the shortest time frame possible. Both units in question are working to finalise applications as quickly as possible and appreciate customers’ patience as they deal with the very high levels of applications. The Department is also reviewing the processing arrangements generally to establish if they can be further streamlined.

Any queries in relation to a person's eligibility or otherwise for a labour market permission can be directed to: Lmauqueries@justice.ie or by post to the Labour Market Access Unit, PO Box 12931, Freepost FDN5264, Dublin 2

More information and further details on labour market access permission is available here:www.irishimmigration.ie/my-situation-has-changed-since-i-arrived-in-ireland/labour-market-access-permission/.