Written answers
Monday, 9 September 2024
Department of Education and Skills
Further and Higher Education
Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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2001.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the 120 to 150 day waiting period for those waiting for labour market access letters to access further education and his plans to ensure that those waiting on such letters will be enabled to upskill in relevant institutions.[35356/24]
Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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I would like to thank the Deputy for the question on this important issue. The waiting period for those waiting for labour market access letters is a matter for the Minister of Justice.
I would like to draw the Deputy’s attention to a number of important documents - 2000 White Paper on Adult Education, ‘Learning for Life’, relevant letters from the Department for Education and Science (dated 27.09.2001 and 04.07.2018) and the EU (recast) Receptions Conditions Directive (2013/22/EU) (which Ireland opted into on 26.06.2018) - which dictate that international protection applicants who do not have permission from the Department for Justice to access the labour market are entitled to free access to adult literacy and English language supports only.
All 16 Education and Training Boards offer free English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) training, as part of their adult literacy provision. The aim of ESOL is to engage learners in developing English language skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking so that they attain a functional language competency level to enhance social cohesion and develop pathways in education, training, and pre-vocational opportunities.
On receipt of their Labour Market Access Permission, an international protection applicant can access further education and training on the same basis as Irish citizens.
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