Eoin Hayes (Dublin Bay South, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

710. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide a breakdown of the number of labour market access permission applications made and granted since 2015, or latest data available; the number of LMA5 forms returned during that period, on an annual basis, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61056/25]

Eoin Hayes (Dublin Bay South, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

711. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide the average processing time for labour market access permission applications for each year since 2015, or latest data available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61057/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 710 and 711 together.

Labour Market Access Permission became available to eligible International Protection applicants in July 2018.

Under the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018 (S.I. No. 230 of 2018), people 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.

The table below shows the number of labour market access permission applications made and granted from 2018 to date. The granting of a labour market access permission does not necessarily confirm that the applicant has found employment.

*2025 is correct as of 05 November 2025

Once an applicant that has been granted labour market access and begins to work, their employer (or the individual themselves if they are self-employed) must complete and return the declaration form LMA5.

The table below shows the number of LMA5s forms returned from 2018 to date. Please note that these forms are not always returned to the Department and as such the numbers below do not represent the number of international protection applicants that have achieved employment.

The table below shows the average processing time for labour market access permission applications from 2018 to date.

*2025 is correct as of 05 November 2025

** Data unavailable due to historical data not migrating to the current platform.