Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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306. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to address reports that Internet bot programmes are being used to block-book appointments with the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43234/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that since early September, some customers have experienced difficulties in booking registration appointments.  Some of these difficulties have arisen because third party agents had been able to secure multiple appointments through the use of automatic software.

A set of software fixes was introduced in mid-September to prevent this abuse of the system.  As far as can be determined, this software update has been successful in preventing the block booking of appointments by third party agents. 

The period September to November is the busiest time for registrations with many student registrations in addition to the usual workload of the office.

A number of measures have been taken to increase the capacity of the office, including the assignment of additional staff to the Registration Office and opening on most Saturdays and some Sundays. These measures are aimed at increasing supply to meet demand by ensuring that as many appointments as possible are made available each day.  INIS plans to continue this regime at least until December and to ensure that demand is met.  

The situation with the appointments system is being kept under review to address any abuses with the system. 

Over 6,200 people have registered with INIS in Dublin this month up to 18th of October and over 8,500 are expected to register in the month overall. This is an increase of 12% on the number registered in Dublin in September 2018.  INIS expects to register over 85,000 people in Dublin this year.

Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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307. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to issues in respect of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service's new online appointment system whereby immigrants who apply for re-entry and renewal visas are being blocked from making appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43237/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that there are currently two online appointments systems in operation for non-EEA nationals.  These systems are for registration of permission to reside in the State, and for applications for an emergency re-entry visa appointment.

With regard to the on-line system used by customers to apply for appointments with INIS to register or renew a permission to reside in the State, I am advised that some customers have experienced difficulty in booking appointments.  This arose because third party agents had been securing multiple appointments through the use of automatic software.

A set of software fixes was introduced in mid-September to prevent this abuse of the system.  As far as can be determined, this software update has been successful in preventing the block booking of appointments by third party agents.  The appointments system is being kept under review to identify attempts to abuse the system.

More than 8,500 non-EEA nationals are expected to be registered in Dublin in October. This is an increase of 12% on the number registered in September 2018.   INIS expects to register over 85,000 people in Dublin this year - a figure considerably up on last year.

With regard to the on-line appointment system for re-entry visas, this is available for appointments for emergency re-entry visa requests only - the vast majority of customers use the postal system.  Customers with urgent travel needs can use the on-line system to make an emergency appointment for a re-entry visa and their application will be dealt with within 24 hours.  There have been no problems with this system.