The majority of Afghan citizens living in Ireland who applied to a Government scheme to bring vulnerable relatives fleeing the Taliban to safety are still waiting for news, one year after it opened.
The Afghan Admission Programme opened on 16 December 2021.
A total of 500 places are on offer under the scheme, but these were limited to specific categories of vulnerable people with relatives in Ireland, for example children, single adults, and the parents of applicants.
Those applying were also advised that they could apply for a maximum of up to four people, though at the time then Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said applications would be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Applicants also needed to prove that they could house successful family members, with required proof such as a landlord's letter.
By the time the scheme closed to applications on 11 March, 528 people applied on behalf of 1,492 potential beneficiaries.
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However it was November before any decisions were made.
Since then, 54 of the 1,492 potential beneficiaries have been approved.
No refusal letters have issued to date.
Since the autumn the Department of Justice has also been contacting applicants, where it believed important documents were missing.
A spokesperson said that 95% of these applicants have been contacted to date.
