Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Socialist Party)
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9. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will report on changes to be made in the Garda National Immigration Bureau to end long queues outside their office on Burgh Quay in Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1406/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I first of all wish to assure the Deputy that there are currently no queues and all applicants for services at the public offices on Burgh Quay are dealt with on the same day.

I have already provided the Deputy with a comprehensive response to a similar question on 11th December last. The public offices in Burgh Quay service two separate functions – one dealing with non-EEA nationals seeking to register and renew their permission to be in the State, a function which is carried out by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) and a separate function dealing with applicants for re-entry visas to allow for short trips outside the State, usually for holidays. This latter function is carried out by staff of Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) and it is in connection with this function, rather than the registration function, that the issue with queuing arose before Christmas.

As I informed the Deputy on that occasion, neither I, as Minister, nor my officials wish for any applicants for services provided by my Department to feel that they have to queue outside office hours for long periods, particularly in the cold weather conditions which prevailed at that time. In this particular case, there is absolutely no need to do so because, unlike the registration functions, it is not a requirement of the re-entry visa applicants to turn up in person. Applications may be made by registered post and many thousands of applications are processed annually in this way.

That being said, there was, during December last, an unprecedented level of demand for re-entry visas – well above volumes of previous years. Given this sudden increase in demand, decisive action was taken with significant additional resources re-deployed to the re-entry visa office with the result that by the end of the first week in December, all the postal applications on hand had been dealt with and all persons who came to the public office were dealt with on the same day. That continued to be the case right through December and is so to date.

To avoid a recurrence of such unexpected demand and queues developing, I have asked my officials to bring forward their proposals for the introduction of an on-line appointment service for the re-entry visa process. Design of the system is underway and is now expected to be in place by the end of the first quarter of this year.

This is part of the wider reform programme for the more effective and efficient delivery of immigration services which is underway. This includes the transfer of registration functions from the GNIB to INIS. This presents opportunities to streamline both registration and visa re-entry services and INIS will be extending its on-line services to the registration area as part of this process.

In relation to the current registration process operated by the GNIB in Burgh Quay, this function is working normally with all callers being dealt with on the day so there is no requirement to queue for this service.

Obviously, it would be ideal if all immigration related business could be done through the postal system (as can currently be done in the case of re-entry visas) or through on-line services. However, in common with the operation of immigration functions in other States, immigrants seeking to register are required to present in person at the offices of the Minister. This is necessary for establishment of identity and as an anti-fraud measure. Accordingly, we must devise systems that meet the needs of our customers while at the same time maintaining appropriate checks and balances within the system. I believe the reform programme underway will achieve both of these aims.