Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 400: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of frontline staff in the Garda National Immigration Bureau, Burgh Quay, Dublin 2, who are responsible for issuing re-entry visas; the number of re-entry visas in each of the past five years that have been issued; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that applicants are queueing overnight; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that tickets are issued only at 8.00 am in the morning; his proposals to introduce an express or internet service; the number of people with language skills employed in the Bureau; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26882/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The public office in Burgh Quay houses the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) and the Visa Office, Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service. The Deputy in his question may be mixing up the functions of the two offices.

The responsibility for the issuing of re-entry visas lies with the Visa section of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service who took over this role from the Department of Foreign Affairs in January of this year and not the Garda National Immigration Bureau as stated by the Deputy in his question. The Visa Office is currently staffed by 10 officials and is open to the public from 8.30 am until 2.30 pm daily (Monday to Friday). Tickets are indeed issued at 8 am, this is simply to accommodate the large crowds who attend the office at this time and to differentiate between those seeking a re-entry visa and those wishing to register with the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) which is located in the same general area. Further tickets are available throughout the opening times for persons seeking re-entry visas and it is the practice of the office to ensure that all persons who attend the office daily are dealt with during this period and indeed the office remains open until all customers have been dealt with.

I can assure the Deputy that there is absolutely no need for persons seeking a re-entry visa to queue overnight or indeed at any time. It is also possible to make a postal application for a re-entry visa and such applications are dealt with within four working days and returned by registered post to the applicant. I am satisfied that the current practices and operation of the visa office provides an effective and efficient service to those seeking re-entry visas.

The number of re-entry visas issued during the period 1 January 2002 to-date are as set out below:

2002 = 42,390

2003 = 48,470

2004 = 54,094

2005 = 74,854

2006 (January-June) = 34,049.