Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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593. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when the online renewal system for non-EU migrants, which currently only applies to Dublin, will be extended to the rest of the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17104/20]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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My Department registers persons residing in the Dublin area only. The Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) processes all applications outside of Dublin through the Garda Station network.

A new online Registration Renewal system for all non-EEA nationals based in Dublin went live on 20 July 2020. This means that anyone within the Dublin area looking to renew their registration will no longer have to book an appointment and attend the Registration Office in person.

A person residing outside of Dublin, however, must contact their local Registration Office when it reopens. The Immigration Service of my Department works closely with the GNIB to ensure that we continue to focus on delivering high quality services to all of our immigration customers outside of the Dublin region. While there are no immediate plans to extend the online renewal system to Registration Offices outside Dublin, this is being kept under review, including in the context of implementing the recommendation of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland.

After being closed for four months due to COVID-19 restrictions, Registration Offices outside Dublin operated by An Garda Síochána are opening on a phased basis in line with the Government roadmap. Email addresses for each Registration Office are provided for queries and the arranging of appointments. Further information on the contact details and proposed dates of reopening for all the registration offices outside Dublin is available on .

Individuals wishing to register or renew their permissions, and who reside outside Dublin, should contact their local Immigration Officer on the email address provided prior to attending at a Garda Station. Please be advised that individuals without an appointment will not be seen.

On 16 July 2020 I announced that immigration permissions due to expire between 20 July and 20 August 2020 will be automatically extended for one month. Any permission which was renewed by an earlier notice of 20 March 2020 and 13 May and which therefore has a new expiry date between 20 July 2020 and 20 August 2020 is also renewed. Provided the person otherwise meets the conditions set out in the notices, this exceptional temporary measure also applies to non-nationals currently outside the State. All renewals are on the same basis as existing permissions, and the same conditions will continue to apply.

While it is intended that this will be the final temporary extension of immigration permission, my Department will continue to keep the situation under active review as matters evolve in our national response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

My Department is providing regular updates on all immigration related matters on the Immigration Service website: . A detailed Frequently Asked Questions document on the COVID-19 impact on immigration and international protection can also be found on the website. This document is also regularly updated. I would encourage all immigration applicants to refer to the website for up-to-date information.