Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 January 2026
485. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of people waiting decisions in the international protection system in employment, broken down by category of employment, in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5343/26]
View answer486. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the breakdown of those waiting for decisions in the international protection system who are in employment, the number who are in employment which pays the minimum wage; the number in employment that pays between the minimum wage and the average industrial wage; the number that are in employment that pays above the average industrial wage in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5344/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 485 and 486 together.
It is a central priority for me that Ireland’s immigration system is robust and rules based.
Labour market access permission for international protection applicants gives eligible applicants the opportunity to work and helps them to integrate into Irish society while providing for themselves and their families outside of the State’s directly provided services and supports. It also helps people to plan and prepare for their future in Ireland if they receive a positive decision on their application for international protection.
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.
Statistics on the number of international protection applicants that have achieved employment are not available.
The table below shows the number of labour market access permission applications made from 2021 to date. The granting of a labour market access permission does not necessarily confirm that the applicant has found employment.
|
- |
Applications made |
|
2021 |
4,525 |
|
2022 |
8,807 |
|
2023 |
13,322 |
|
2024 |
17,078 |
|
2025 |
22,416 |
|
2026* |
593 |
*As of COB 20/01/2026.
Please note figures are correct at time of issue and may be subject to data cleansing.
I can advise the Deputy, the Central Statistics Office on 14 August 2025 released a publication concerning the economic activity of Applicants of International Protection. The analysis prepared by the Central Statistics Office is available here: www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/fp/fp-iaip/insightsonapplicantsofinternationalprotectionusingadministrativedata2024/economicactivity/.
