Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 454: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress which has been made in the visa application of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary. [4248/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The application referred to by the Deputy was refused by my Department in early 2005. When assessing applications of this type, the visa officer will consider, among other factors, whether the level of salary of the worker would come within the ambit of qualifying for payment from public funds. In this regard the criteria set by the Department of Social and Family Affairs for eligibility for family income supplement payment, FIS, have been used. The criteria, which may change from time to time, are available on that Department's website www.welfare.ie/publications/sw22.html.

If the level of the worker's income as evidenced by his or her payslips or P60 would qualify for FIS payments, the application for a visa is generally refused. The visa officer will expect to see sufficient evidence of the financial status of the applicant, in the form of P60 for the most recent tax year, several payslips and detailed bank statements covering, at a minimum, a two to three month period. The documentation supplied should demonstrate a consistent financial history and evidence of regular income.

In the case of visa-required family members of non EEA national workers, the general rule is that after the worker has been in the State for 12 months and has been offered employment for a further 12 months that they may be joined by their families. This is subject to the worker being able to support the family without recourse to public funds.

The procedures for dealing with visa applications from family members of work permit holders who wish to join that worker in the State are under consideration as part of ongoing developments within the Irish naturalisation and immigration service. It is open to the applicant to lodge a new application outlining his current situation and this application will be fully considered by my Department.