Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 381: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason for the current delays in the processing of bridging visas; the steps he is taking to rectify this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12261/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I have been informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service that following on from the Undocumented Scheme of 2009, persons in employment who have become undocumented in the State through no fault of their own may apply to the Immigration Service of my Department (INIS) to have their cases considered for a temporary permission which allows them to apply for a work permit to work in the State and to regularise their immigration status in the State.

Cases currently on hands are being processed as quickly as resources permit. The processing time can vary from individual to individual depending on the documentation included at the time of application and the complexity of the case. The current processing time is up to 6 months.

Should the Deputy have a specific case in mind a query may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.