Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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160. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the total number of applications that were made under section 56 of the International Protection Act 2015 in 2021 and to date in 2022; and the number of successful and unsuccessful applications, respectively. [53697/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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My Department received 1,105 family reunification applications for 3,117 family members under the International Protection Act 2015 between 1 January 2021 and 24 October 2022. The table below gives the number of applications received, including the number of family members encompassed in those applications, broken down by year.

I recognise the critical importance of International Protection recipients having their family members reunite with them as soon as possible. Therefore during the current COVID-19 pandemic, Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) continued to accept and process Family Reunification (FRU) applications under the International Protection Act 2015.

It is recognised that all applicants for FRU would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the nature of the FRU process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time.

Further information can be found on my Department's website here:

www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-join-family-in-ireland/family-reunification-of-international-protection-holders/