Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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423. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to speed up applications for family reunification for families from Afghanistan in cases in which a family member left behind is at risk of serious injury or death at the hands of the Taliban. [31399/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I am very conscious of the plight faced by the Afghan people following the collapse of the former Afghan government and the takeover by the Taliban, that has further fuelled the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

In response to the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, my Department remains focused on processing applications for family reunification made under all admission avenues, including the Afghan Admissions Programme for family members of Afghan nationals living in Ireland. A total of 528 applications have been received under the Programme and my officials are currently processing all applications with decisions expected to issue in the coming months.

In addition, since the beginning of August 2021, a total of 133 join family visas have been approved for Afghan nationals and 77 family reunification applications have been decided.

As you will be aware, the Government announced that a significant number of Afghan people would be allocated places on the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP), which is under the remit of my colleague, Minister O’Gorman. My Department provided the visas to facilitate their travel to Ireland and has issued more than 500 visas or letters in lieu.

It is recognised that all applicants for family reunification would wish to have a decision on their application made without delay. However, the nature of the process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. I want to reassure the Deputy that all possible efforts are being made to bring family reunification applications, across the range of avenues open to applicants, to a swift conclusion.

Visa applications for Afghan family members of Irish citizens and Afghan nationals living in Ireland, submitted under the provisions of my Department's Non-EEA Policy Document on Family Reunification, are being assessed speedily and sympathetically.

Anyone that wishes to make an application for a visa to join a family member already living in Ireland, can do so online at: www.visas.inis.gov.ie/avats/OnlineHome.aspx . Eligible family members are generally dependent family members, including spouses, civil partners and children under the age of 18.

In addition, those wishing to apply to bring an elderly dependent to live with them in Ireland under a Stamp 0 permission can find further information at: www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-join-family-in-ireland/joining-a-non-eea-non-swiss-national/dependent-elderly-relative/ .