Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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579. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if in the case of a visa applicant with a physical disability, if their physical disability is a consideration when assessing if the applicant has sufficient finances or when assessing if granting a visa may result in a cost to public funds and-or public resources. [19226/14]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Irish visa application process does not require an applicant to provide information as to whether he or she has a physical disability. However, there are some very limited circumstances in which an applicant may choose to submit evidence of a physical disability in support of his or her application. This would primarily occur where an applicant is seeking a long stay visa for the purpose of family reunification on the basis of dependency on a family member residing in Ireland. Such information would be taken into account in the decision making process, in particular in determining the issue of dependency.

Each visa application is considered on its own merits, the onus resting on the applicant to satisfy the visa officer as to why the visa should be granted. A visa officer must take into consideration many factors before arriving at a decision, including whether adequate financial support will be available to the applicant concerned for the duration and purpose of their intended visit, particularly should any unforeseen circumstances arise. This requirement decreases the likelihood that the granting of a visa could result in a cost to State funds or resources, an important consideration in any decision to approve a visa application, regardless of whether the applicant has a physical disability.

Comprehensive information on the visa application process is available on the website of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service - www.inis.gov.ie. It should be borne in mind, however, that the information contained on the website is intended to act as guidance only. It does not limit the discretion of the visa officer in dealing with individual applications.