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	Asylum-seeking students in system for five years to be granted equal third-level access</p>
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	More than 1,500 asylum seekers whose refugee applications have been rejected are likely to benefit from the right to reside here under proposals being drawn up by a Government working group.</p>
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	Under the existing system, thousands of asylum seekers have spent anything up to 10 years waiting for their status to be resolved.</p>
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	A working group which has been reviewing the system is understood to have proposed that asylum seekers in the system for more than five years should be able to avail of a fast-track decision within six months.</p>
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	Sources familiar with the proposals say in practice this will involve officials casting a &ldquo;sympathetic eye&rdquo; on applications by asylum seekers for leave to remain in the State.</p>
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	Government members are cautious to avoid any use of the term amnesty, but one senior source said internal estimates are that upwards of 1,500 people would be entitled to benefit.</p>
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	Many of those seeking refugee status have had their applications rejected, but are challenging these decisions in the courts or seeking leave to remain in Ireland.</p>
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	These individuals will be required to drop their legal actions to avail of the fast-track decision-making process.</p>
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	The proposal is one of a number of recommendations expected to be published over the coming weeks. Other proposals include:</p>
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	Giving young asylum seekers, who have been resident here for five years, the same access to third-level education as Irish students. At present asylum-seeking students are treated as international students and face prohibitive fees</p>
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	Maintaining the ban on paid employment for asylum seekers, partly due to concerns it could entitle asylum seekers to unemployment benefit</p>
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	Increases in weekly allowances paid to asylum seekers, set at &euro;19.10 for adults and &euro;9.60 for children. They have not been increased since they were introduced 15 years ago.</p>
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	The Government working group was established last year by Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald and Minister of State Aodh&aacute;n &Oacute; R&iacute;ord&aacute;in following criticism of the direct provision system, which provides accommodation for asylum seekers.</p>
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	The 10-member group, chaired by Mr Justice Bryan MacMahon, includes representatives from non-governmental organisations and the Department of Justice, is due to finalise its report to Government shortly.</p>
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	The Irish Refugee Council resigned from the group earlier this month on the basis that it was not consulted about key legislative proposals.</p>
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	Minister for Education Jan O&rsquo;Sullivan voiced support on Wednesday for improving access to third-level for asylum-seeking students. She said the high fees they faced effectively excluded them for a &ldquo;future they have worked hard to achieve&rdquo;.</p>
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	&ldquo;I am determined this will change from September 2015 for students who have spent five years or more in the Irish education system. I believe such students should no longer have to pay any more to access third-level than their Irish friends do, and that they should be have appropriate access to student supports.&rdquo;</p>
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	Irish Refugee Council chief executive Sue Conlan said moves to improve access to third level for asylum-seeking students were a step in the right direction</p>
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	But she said the right to work for asylum seekers existed in all other EU countries except Ireland and Lithuania.</p>
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	<a href="http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/over-1-500-asylum-seekers-may-get-residency-under-reforms-1.2169150">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/over-1-500-asylum-seekers-may-get-residency-under-reforms-1.2169150</a></p>
