New measures announced yesterday (28 January) will enable those applying for international protection in Ireland to look for work six months after they make their application.

Applicants previously had to wait nine months to apply for permission to work. In another change announced by Minister for Justice Helen McEntee (pictured), permission to work will now last for 12 months rather than six months.

The new measures follow a review of labour market access for asylum-seekers carried out by the Department of Justice, in parallel with the work of the advisory group on the issue headed by Catherine Day.

Integrate

6,006 permissions to access the labour market have been issued since June 2018, including 4,569 for direct provision residents.

“Giving eligible applicants the opportunity to work earlier, and extending their permission to work to 12 months, will help even more people to integrate into Irish society while providing for themselves and their families,” said Minister McEntee.

Access to the labour market is provided for under the European Reception Conditions Regulations 2018 and work on the relevant legislative changes for the new measures is at an advanced stage.

Applications can be re-examined

While that process is being completed, the department has begun issuing 12-month permits for applicants of six months’ standing. It will also re-examine, when requested, any applications which have been refused on the basis of a first instance decision being made in less than nine months.

The department says any applicant who has been refused permission in the last three months because insufficient time had elapsed since their application for international protection may make a new application, enclosing all documents required under the new guidelines.

Applications for labour market access permission are available online.