Ireland Announces €2 Million Funding for English Language Support for Third Country Nationals

What changed

The Irish Immigration Service has launched the Temporary Protection Transition Scheme (TPTS), with applications opening on 30 September 2026. This initiative enables eligible individuals currently holding Temporary Protection status in Ireland to apply for a different form of immigration permission. Applicants must submit their applications via the designated online portal, ensuring all required information and supporting documentation are provided.

What changed

Ireland has reported early improvements in how it processes applications for international protection, about 100 days after the EU Migration and Asylum Pact began. Speaking at a conference in Malta on 28 September 2026, the Minister of State for Migration, Colm Brophy, noted that Ireland's experience showed the asylum system was now more efficient and effective thanks to the Pact's implementation. The government believes these early results come from planning before the new law started, new screening checks, better ways to verify documents, increased use of electronic evidence, and the new processing timelines brought in by the International Protection Act 2026.

What changed

On 9 September 2026, the Irish Government agreed to prioritise drafting new laws to make naturalisation requirements stricter. These new rules would introduce additional conditions for becoming an Irish citizen, such as requiring a longer period of legal residence, making language and civics tests mandatory, and needing proof of financial self-sufficiency. The aim of these updates is to align Ireland's naturalisation process more closely with what's done in other European Union Member States.

What changed

Ireland is starting a 'Temporary Protection Transition Scheme'. This scheme will give a Stamp 4 immigration permission to people who have temporary protection and meet certain conditions. This permission is for up to two years at first and people can renew it. Time spent with this permission will count towards naturalisation, which means becoming a citizen. The scheme aims to help people find jobs and live independently. Applications are expected to open in September 2026.