Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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36. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the up-to-date position on the single application procedure for a combined employment and residence permit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38173/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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On 15 May 2024, I jointly announced with Minister Burke that the Government has agreed to the roll out of a single permit to both work and live in Ireland.

Legal migration pathways are vital to addressing labour shortages at all skill levels across the economy and has been a key driver of growth in Ireland. I work closely with the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to ensure that Ireland's labour market migration arrangements are fair, efficient and meet the needs of economy and society.

With that aim, my Department, and that of Minister Burke, have been working with a number of other Departments on an Inter-Departmental Working Group on the feasibility of a single permit to both work and live in Ireland. Currently, a person from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) has to first make an application for an employment permit, and then make a second application for a visa (if necessary) and for an immigration permission. Given the challenges in recruiting sufficient domestic and EEA talent, the group agreed a detailed report on how to unify an application procedure for employment, visa and residence permissions.

An implementation group has now being established between our two departments to commence implementation of the Single Permit. Once the single permit is implemented, Ireland would also then be able to opt-in to the EU Single Permit Directive, which we estimate will be over the next three years.

In the shorter term, efficiencies will be introduced to make the process easier for prospective employers and workers while at the same time creating efficiencies for both Departments in reducing duplication and maximising resources. These changes will include reducing the duplication of checks and documents through data sharing, aligning online information to streamline the customer experience and designing a single payment model for a single fee.