Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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1499. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he is aware of private companies (details supplied) purporting to offer assistance to asylum seekers to submit applications for leave to remain, and charging them fees of over €2,000 for such assistance; and if his Department monitors or regulates the activities of such companies in any way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18527/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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My Department’s immigration service will generally only engage with individuals or groups such as solicitors, NGOs or other bodies whose bona fides have been established.

Applicants for International Protection can avail of the services of the Legal Aid Board (LAB) which:

• provides legal assistance and advice in support of their application.
• advises them in relation to the completion of their International Protection Questionnaire (if not already completed) including any grounds that they may wish to set out for the purpose of requesting that the Minister should give them permission to remain in the State.
• assists them in the preparation for their international protection interview and any written representations to the Minister.
• in the case of a negative recommendation on their application, provides representation for them in any appeal they may take to the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT).