Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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517. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to reports that there is a 15 to 16-week delay in Limerick for the renewal of residency cards for individuals on Stamp 4 visas; if there is a plan in place to deal with this significant backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7154/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) through the Garda Station network.

I have been informed by An Garda Síochána that there is currently a 12-week waiting time for customers seeking an appointment at Henry Street Immigration Office. There continues to be significant pressure on immigration services in the Limerick Division, as reflected in the table below.

I have been advised that every effort is being made to reduce the waiting time. Additional staff are due to undergo immigration training in the coming weeks. Options are also being explored to increase the capacity of the immigration office to allow more cases to be dealt with each day. The opening hours have been extended with the Immigration Office now open seven days a week from 7am until 10pm.