Just 15 work permits have been granted to asylum-seekers since the Government introduced a new scheme in July, the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment told the Dail yesterday.

Ms Harney said, however, that as far as she knew there were just 15 applications for work permits.

She told the Fine Gael deputy leader, Mrs Nora Owen, that she believed there were at least 2,000 people who qualified to be granted work permits.

"There is huge scope to employ, perhaps not 2,000 but certainly a substantial number of those who are currently awaiting the determination of their asylum status."

The scheme allows for those who have been in the State for more than 12 months to have the right to seek work and requests from employers would be generally facilitated, the Minister said.

The Tanaiste added that the main problem seemed to be in "trying to match people seeking asylum with employers", trying to find out "who they are and where they are".

She said during Question Time that there was a lot of short-term employment available at the moment, and a number of recruitment agencies had asked if the Department would grant permits for a three-month period.