Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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251. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 449 of 7 September 2018, if he will report on the additional resources assigned to process visa applications from India (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2780/19]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I have been advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that visa processing times have improved in the New Delhi Visa Office in recent weeks. The Embassy website has been updated to reflect current processing times for each visa category.

As outlined previously, the Policy Document on Non-EEA Family reunification contains a stated business target that visa applications to join family members should be dealt with between 6 to 12 months of the application being made. This business target reflects the detailed and often complex assessment that is required to be carried out in relation to applications for family reunification. The processing time for this type of visa is currently 8 months (the medium of the business target timeframe).

The Deputy can be assured that every effort is made to keep processing times to a minimum.  As I have previously indicated, additional staff were allocated to the New Delhi Visa Office to process rising numbers of visa applications in addition to the streamlining of visa processing where possible.  I understand this is making a difference and the position continues to be kept under review.