Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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195. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will meet with a group (details supplied) regarding concerns with visa processing. [8961/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I can confirm that my Department has received and responded to the correspondence referred to by the Deputy. I have asked officials in my Department to engage with the group concerned to better understand the issues raised.

The Deputy may wish to note that, following Government approval in December last year, my Department has established an Inter-Departmental Working Group to prepare an implementation report for consideration by Government on the introduction of a single permit process for employment permit and immigration permissions to streamline the processes for non-EEA nationals seeking employment in Ireland.

In relation to Applications from residents of India specifically, these applications are normally processed by the visa office in New Delhi. There has been a 178% increase in Type D Long Stay Employment visa applications received from residents of India, up to the 31st of December 2022, in comparison with the same period in 2019 (before COVID-19 related travel restrictions). The approval rate of all category of visas processed in 2022 in the New Delhi Visa office remains high at approximately 95%.

A single entry Type D employment visa costs €60. This fee, which compares favourably with UK and other EU member state fees, has not increased since 2004.