Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 15 February 2024

Public Accounts Committee

Appropriation Accounts 2022
Vote 24 - Justice
Vote 21 - Prisons

9:30 am

Photo of Alan DillonAlan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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That is good to hear because I am sure every constituency has applicants who are currently in the system. It is important that there is continuous engagement and not a cliff-edge with regard to the winding down of this programme.

I will move on to visa applications. In 2023, the Department received more than166,000 applications, which is a 22% increase from 2022. Some 158 of these decisions were made, with an approval rate of 86%. Will the witnesses give us an understanding of the demand on applications within their Department relating to visas, immigration permissions and citizen applications?