Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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279. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when an application to remain in the State by a person (details supplied) will be processed; the reasons for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48796/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Change of Status application for the person referred to by the Deputy was received by the Domestic Residence division of my Department continues to be processed.

While every effort is made to process applications as soon as possible, processing times will vary having regard to the volume and complexity of applications.

Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility at INISOireachtasMail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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280. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will create a separate unit within the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service to ensure that visa applications relating to medical professionals are strategically prioritised and fast-tracked; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48798/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I can advise the Deputy that decisions regarding the grant or refusal of employment visas are made in a number of Immigration Service Delivery Visa Offices and at Embassies of the Department of Foreign Affairs which process certain visa applications under delegated sanction from my Department.

Every effort is made to process applications as quickly as possible. Processing times inevitably vary during the year and from one location to another. The processing times for employment visa decisions are published on the visa pages of each Visa Office and Embassy website. Applicants are advised to allow eight weeks for visa processing.

As of 27th September 2022, the Visa Office in Dublin is processing employment visa applications it received before 10 August 2022.

More generally, the processing time for visas in each location will vary based on a number of factors such as the number of applications, seasonal pressures, the complexity of the applications, whether further information or investigation is required, and the resources available. My Department is currently examining whether there are opportunities to further streamline the overall application process for these and other groups.

The central concern, as with all visa services worldwide, in deciding on visa applications is to strike an appropriate balance between protecting the country's vital national interests by maintaining an effective immigration regime, while at the same time facilitating travel for those who meet the criteria. Each visa application is therefore decided on its own merits taking all factors into account.