Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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826. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to publish the waiting times for the renewal of IRP cards at the immigration office in Anglesea Street Garda station, Cork; if she will consider measures to speed up renewal applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12068/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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My Department's Registration Office in Burgh Quay is responsible for registering immigration permissions for customers residing in the Dublin area only.

An Garda Síochána has oversight of the first registration and renewal of immigration residence permissions for non-EU/EEA nationals residing outside of the Dublin area. I have no role in regard to the scheduling of these appointments.

The Garda Commissioner has advised that the number of registrations at Cork City Immigration Unit has increased significantly over the last 3 years, with 12,400 registrations completed in 2021 rising to 20,400 registrations in 2023. The current backlog stands at 6,000 applications with a waiting time of 4 to 5 months.

The Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland (COFPI) recommended that immigration administrative functions should transfer from the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) to the Department of Justice. My Department and An Garda Síochána have engaged intensively on the scope of immigration operations to transfer to the Department and a roadmap outlining the functions for transfer is being developed. This will set out the timeline for transfer of work relating to the nationwide registration and renewal (outside of Dublin) of residence permission and the renewal of such permission from An Garda Síochána to the Registration Office of my Department.