Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)
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Question 495: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason a visa application was refused to a person (details supplied); the further information required to obtain a visa in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8997/05]

Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)
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Question 496: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason a visa application was refused to a person (details supplied); the further information required to obtain a visa in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8998/05]

Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)
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Question 497: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason a visa application was refused to a person (details supplied); the further information required to obtain a visa in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8999/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 495 to 497, inclusive, together.

The Deputy refers to three visa applications in his questions, reference numbers 1485477, 1485478 and 1485479. These applications were for the purposes of allowing the family of a non-EEA national resident in the State travel to Ireland to reside with her.

The first application, 1485477, was refused by my Department at initial stage on 12 January 2005. The applicant has already been notified in writing, on 26 January, of the reasons for refusal. The second and third applications were refused at initial stage on 25 January 2005. Again, the applicants were already notified, on 3 March 2005, of the reasons for refusal.

In all three cases, the reasons for refusal were identical. The visa officer was unable to establish, based on the evidence supplied in support of each application, that sufficient finances were available to guarantee the support of the applicants while in the State, without recourse to public funds. When assessing visa applications of this type, the visa officer will expect to see evidence of sufficient finances, in the form of a detailed bank statement covering a two to three month period, and several recent, consecutive payslips showing a suitable level of income.

In this regard, the criteria set out by the Department of Social and Family Affairs for eligibility for family income supplement are used. These criteria, which may change from time to time, are available on that Department's website at www.welfare.ie/publications/sw22.html. Where it is apparent that the level of income would potentially qualify the family for payments from public funds, the general rule is that the application will be refused. Additionally, the visa officer cited insufficient documentation as a reason for refusal in each case. The absence of an up to date letter from their employers was specifically noted in all three cases.

To date, there is no record of an appeal in respect of any of the above applications having been received by my Department.