2324. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for an update on his Department's efforts to merge the visa and employment permit system into one user-friendly single application procedure supported by a new ICT system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61688/26]

I have been working closely with the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to ensure that Ireland's legal employment pathways are as efficient and convenient as possible.

As the Deputy is aware, Government approval was secured in May 2024 for our plan to introduce a single permit that would allow people to both work and live in Ireland.

Currently, employment permits, visa applications and residency permits are processed separately. A detailed plan is being developed to unify these processes, and an implementation team is working to introduce a single permit. Once this is in place, Ireland can seek to opt in to the EU Single Permit Directive.

This is a complex technical project involving the integration of two separate IT systems and is likely to require legislative amendments. Completion is expected in 2027.

In the short term, streamlining the process will ensure that information requests and checks are not duplicated. The customer experience will be improved by aligning online information and introducing a single-payment model. These steps will simplify the process while a common application platform is being developed.

In 2024, changes were introduced that enabled spouses and partners of General Employment Permit holders to take up employment without separate authorisation.

These initiatives support the long-term sustainability of our economy and recognise the important contribution that legal migrants make to our economy and society.