Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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217. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if de facto partnership immigration permission applications are currently being processed by her Department; if so, the unit processing same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4862/21]

Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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218. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the average length of time between receipt of a complete de facto partnership immigration permission application in 2020 and the provision of a decision on the application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4863/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 217 and 218 together.

The average length of time in 2020, between receipt of a completed De Facto Partnership Immigration Permission application and the issuing of a decision on the application was six months.

De Facto Partnership applications are being accepted and processed and have been throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. These applications are processed by Unit 5 Residence Division in the Immigration Service of my Department. The Unit deals with applications from people who are legally present in the State and wish to apply for permission to remain on the basis of De Facto Partnership with an Irish National or legal resident in Ireland on a Stamp 1, 4 or 5, as set out in the Policy Document on Non-EEA Family Reunification. The application form is available on the Immigration Service website (www.inis.gov.ie).

Correspondence can be addressed to Unit 5 Domestic Residence and Permissions Division, Immigration Service Delivery, PO Box 12695, Dublin 2 or via email to INISdefacto@justice.ie.

A pre-clearance process is also in place for De Facto Partners of Irish Nationals / Critical Skills Employment Permit Holders / Non EEA researchers on a Hosting Agreement who intend to travel to Ireland for the purpose of joining their De Facto Partner. They must apply for immigration pre- clearance to enter the State prior to travelling to Ireland. The Pre Clearance Unit in the Visa Division of the Immigration Service processes these applications. The average processing time for De facto pre-clearance applications is approximately 12 weeks. Pre-clearance application forms are also available on the Immigration Service website.