David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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968. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of family reunification applications currently awaiting a decision by his Department; the number of applications received, approved and rejected each month over the past 12 months; the average processing time for a decision on such applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16985/23]

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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996. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the total number of applications, and the number of successful and unsuccessful applications, made under section 56 of the International Protection Act 2015, in 2022 and to date in 2023. [17587/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 968 and 996 together.

Family reunification as provided for in the International Protection Act 2015, gives certain family members of a qualified person, the sponsor, an immigration permission allowing them to enter, remain and reside in the State with the sponsor. 

An application for family reunification must be made by the sponsor within 12 months of them being granted an International Protection permission and is subject to the provisions of the International Protection Act 2015.

Currently, the Family Reunification Unit of my Department has 631 applications for 1,934 family members in progress under the International Protection Act 2015. In 2022, my Department received 760 family reunification applications for 2,245 family members under the Act.

The current average processing time is 12 months. The speed in which a decision can be made is impacted by the quality of the application received. My Department will continue to engage with the applicant for any further information that may be required to assist with the processing of the application.

The table below gives the number of applications received, approved and refused, including the number of family members encompassed in those applications, broken down by month. Please note that decisions issued in any month may relate to applications which were received in a previous month or year due to the time taken to process applications.

Information on how to apply for family reunification as provided for in the International Protection Act 2015 is available on my Department's website here: www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-join-family-in-ireland/family-reunification-of-international-protection-holders/