Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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476. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress made to date in the determination of an application for family reunification in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 6; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22644/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 513 on Tuesday, 12 February, 2013, copied beneath. The position remains unchanged.

The individuals referred to currently have visa applications under consideration. The visa applications were received in the Visa Office, Dublin on the 5 November 2012. They were referred to the Visa Office in Abuja for processing, as the individuals concerned are currently resident in Nigeria. Preliminary assessments of the applications have been completed and the reference in Ireland has been contacted requesting further documentation. Cases of this type are dealt with in chronological order and comprehensive examination of the applications referred to will take place in due course.

The actual processing time for dealing with such applications can vary depending on the particular circumstances of each individual case and the type of investigation required. The nature of the applications referred to by the Deputy require more in depth consideration than straightforward 'visit' visas.

Queries in relation to general immigration matters 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.