Cut red tape for asylum seekers looking to upskill - Davitt

Fianna Fáil Senator Aidan Davitt has called for asylum seekers to be allowed to enrol in skills training once they have made an application to stay in Ireland.

Senator Davitt said it "makes sense" for thousands of international protection applicants to be given the opportunity to upskill before they join the workforce.

Under the current system, international protection applicants must wait six months before they can apply for a work permit or enrol in training.

Once a person is granted international protection they can work and can access State education and training in the same manner as Irish citizens.

“There is a huge need for skilled workers across the country,” Senator Davitt said. “The construction industry needs 50,000 additional employees while at the same time there are thousands of international protection applicants in hotels and immigration complexes waiting to be given approval to work.

“International protection applicants should not have to wait six months before they are allowed to enrol in training or education. It makes sense for them to be allowed upskill in their first six months here.

“SOLAS should be allowed to offer international protection applicants training which would aid the international protection worker in the long term with references for Visa applications, if they plan to stay in Ireland long-term, and it would also benefit the economy.

“At present there are delays of about 90 days for those seeking permission to access the labour market. I recently met two asylum seekers who told me of their frustration of not being allowed to work at present. They should be allowed to contribute to society rather being left idle. It would be of benefit to everyone," Davitt concluded.