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______________________________________________
For Written Answer on : 18/04/2023
Question Number(s): 968 Question Reference(s): 16985/23
Department: Justice
Asked by: David Stanton T.D.
______________________________________________


QUESTION



* To ask the Minister for Justice the number of family reunification applications currently awaiting a decision by his Department; the number of applications received, approved and rejected each month over the previous twelve months; the average processing time for a decision on such applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

– David Stanton T.D.


For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 18 April, 2023.

REPLY


Family reunification as provided for in the International Protection Act 2015, gives certain family members of a qualified person, the sponsor, an immigration permission allowing them to enter, remain and reside in the State with the sponsor. 

An application for family reunification must be made by the sponsor within 12 months of them being granted an International Protection permission and is subject to the provisions of the International Protection Act 2015.

Currently, the Family Reunification Unit of my Department has 631 applications for 1,934 family members in progress under the International Protection Act 2015. In 2022, my Department received 760 family reunification applications for 2,245 family members under the Act.

The current average processing time is 12 months. The speed in which a decision can be made is impacted by the quality of the application received. My Department will continue to engage with the applicant for any further information that may be required to assist with the processing of the application.

The table below gives the number of applications received, approved and refused, including the number of family members encompassed in those applications, broken down by month. Please note that decisions issued in any month may relate to applications which were received in a previous month or year due to the time taken to process applications.

2022ReceivedDecision (subjects)  
 Primary Applicants  SubjectsApprovedRefused
Jan 22  8025345132
Feb 22  531612349
Mar 22  491431035
Apr 22  531435473
May 22  672462571
Jun 22  712024485
Jul 22  711914896
Aug 22  741991666
Sep 22  812476783
Oct 22  7320068117
Nov 22  541545152
Dec 22  341062356
2022 Total 760 2,245 474 915 
Jan 23  29752625
Feb 23  511262536
Mar 23  25822914
2023 YtD 105 283 80 75 


 
Information on how to apply for family reunification as provided for in the International Protection Act 2015 is available on my Department’s website here: https://www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-join-family-in-ireland/family-reunification-of-international-protection-holders/