Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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204. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will change the family reunification policy to allow healthcare assistants from outside the EU/EEA/UK earning €30,000 to bring spouses and children to Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4934/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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The review of the Policy Document for Non-EEA Family Reunification, which was last amended in 2016, is examining a wide range of matters relating to applications for family reunification, including the nature and suitability of current income thresholds and waiting periods. My Department has consulted with a wide variety of stakeholders and the expectation is that the review will be brought to a conclusion in the coming months.

While I fully understand that people moving to Ireland to live and work would wish to have their family join them, the issues to be examined as part of a family reunification application are complex. An important consideration in all family reunification applications, for example, is the ability of the sponsor to demonstrate a clear capacity to provide for their family member or members if they are to be granted a permission to come to Ireland.

I can also advise that, with effect from 15 May 2024, the first part of the review was implemented in that eligible spouses and partners of General Employment Permit and Intra-Corporate Transfer Irish Employment Permit holders, who have applied for and been granted family reunification, in accordance with the Non-EEA Family Reunification Policy, are now registered on a Stamp 1G permission, rather than a Stamp 3. This allows the holder to take up employment without the need to obtain a separate Employment Permit of their own.