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For Oral Answer on : 26/09/2024
Question Number(s): 9 Question Reference(s): 38096/24
Department: Justice
Asked by: David Stanton T.D.
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QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Justice the measures being taken by her Department to ensure the quicker processing of visa preclearance applications and associated appeals; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
REPLY
I can advise the Deputy that in 2023, over 166,000 visa applications were submitted and approximately 140,000 people were granted visas to travel to Ireland. These figures are likely to be surpassed in 2024, with over 123,000 visa applications having been received in the first seven months of this year alone. This reflects an increase of 20%, compared to the same period in 2023, with over 21,000 additional applications received.
Visa and preclearance applications provide legal avenues for people moving to Ireland for employment, study and family reasons and also to facilitate visitors who wish to travel for business and/or tourism. The vast majority of visa applications are determined in a matter of weeks. However, some applications, in particular those to join family members here, can take considerably longer.
It is important to recall these applications are screening processes, designed to establish that the person has a legitimate reason to come to Ireland prior to travel. Verifying an application is an important part of our immigration system and the checks involved can take time to complete.
Processing times for these applications are influenced by a number of factors. The time it can take varies depending on the type and complexity of application; individual circumstances; peak application periods; such as holidays or the start of the school year; and, crucially, the quality and completeness of the application lodged.
I understand extended wait times can be frustrating. I want to assure anyone who is waiting on a decision that my Department is doing everything possible to progress applications as quickly as possible.
I am acutely aware these applications, in particular those to join family members here, are very important for the persons impacted and I am committed to improving the service my Department provides. In recent weeks, I have assigned additional resources and staff to my Department’s visa division which will I expect will reduce the waiting times for family applications in the coming months.
As the Deputy may be aware, my Department has established a modernisation programme to transform its immigration operations to provide a modern, transparent system which is much more accessible and responsive to the public’s needs.
The modernisation programme is restructuring the immigration system and will replace legacy information management systems, introducing a new single platform for immigration services. This platform is being delivered in phases with phase one expected to be completed by the end of this year and it will, over time, significantly improve customer service capacity.
In additional to the modernisation programme, last May, I jointly announced with my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, a project to adopt a single permit to both work and live in Ireland. The outcome will streamline the process for applicants coming to Ireland to work by combining three separate applications into one single procedure. This is a complex project which will take a number of years to complete.
I am confident that in due course we will see more expedited processing for visa and preclearance applications because of both the modernisation programme and the single permit procedure.
