Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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292. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason that stamp 0 visas are not issued for three to five years as was the case previously in cases in which the circumstances justify same which would reduce the number of renewal applications in the system and lead to a more streamlined service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58577/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Stamp 0 permissions are registered for 1 year at first time registration and at each subsequent renewal.

In 2021, Stamp 0 renewals accounted for 0.31% of all renewals processed in the state. Extending validity periods of this stamp category would have marginal impact on the processing of renewals across all stamp categories.

A Stamp 0 is provided to persons who are

- retiring to or live in Ireland as a person of independent means

- a visiting academic at an Irish university or college

- living in Ireland as the elderly, dependent relative of an Irish National, or a non-EU/EEA or Swiss citizen

A Stamp 0 indicates that a person has permission to stay in Ireland for a temporary period, subject to that person being of independent means and fully self-sufficient financially. Alternatively, their sponsor in Ireland must be of independent means and can support them fully and cannot rely on State benefits or publicly funded services.

The operation of permissions, including their length, is kept under review by my Department and the Deputy’s query will be considered in that context.