SANTA CLAUS HAS received his official clearance from the government to enter Irish airspace to deliver presents this Christmas.

The Taoiseach confirmed today that the North Pole’s best known resident will be able to travel through Irish skies on Christmas Eve as he seeks to make his deliveries for children across the country.

Micheál Martin told the Dáil he was aware of the “critical timeline” facing Santa to deliver presents, but that he has now been given the all clear to provide an “abundance of goods and toys” to boys and girls.

Meath West TD Aisling Dempsey raised the issue in the Dáil today, telling the Taoiseach that she had the “really important question to ask on behalf of all the parents and the carers and on behalf of all the children across Ireland” – including her children Liam and Hannah.

While Dempsey noted that Ireland had already received lots of special visits this year, the “most important one will arrive on 24th December” with the appearance of Santa Claus.

She sought assurances that “our airspace will be clear for Santa, for Rudolf and all of his reindeers to allow them deliver all the well deserved presents for the boys and girls in Co Meath and across Ireland.”

In response, the Taoiseach said he had consulted with the Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien and his junior minister Sean Canney to confirm Santa could be gigven the greenlight for travel.

“Santa has complete clearance in Irish airspace for that critical timeline that you’ve outlined,” Martin told Dempsey.

“Liam and Hannan can be rest assured that he will arrive on time and with an abundance of goods and toys and so forth for the children of the nation.”