Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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175. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his views on whether visa requirements for Indian citizens visiting Ireland are cumbersome; and his further views on reviewing same. [23636/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Indian nationals are subject to the same visa requirements and checks as all visa required nationals wishing to travel to Ireland.

I can advise the Deputy that a number of steps have been taken in recent years to upgrade the visa processing system to make it more efficient and easier for visitors from abroad to submit their visa applications for travel to Ireland; this has included the availability of services provided by VFS Global at their Visa Application Centres (VACs).  It is important to state that the services provided by this organisation do not extend to making decisions on visa applications; such decisions are the sole remit of either the staff of my Department or the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The use of these centres provides greater accessibility to applicants in these countries as they can make visa applications at locations nearer to them.  They also greatly increase the visibility of Ireland as a destination for tourism, business or education purposes across a wider geographical area in very large countries or countries where our consular representation is not physically present.  In India there are a total of twelve centres across the country where applications for both Irish and United Kingdom visas can be made and where initial processing of documentation is carried out. 

The applicant can choose the centre most convenient to their home or business address, and for a small extra charge, can choose to have the visa returned by courier to their home or business address.  There is also a facility for group bookings to facilitate applicants who are travelling together to Ireland. It is intended over time to expand the use of such facilities in order to provide better services to potential travellers to Ireland. 

The current visa processing times for the New Delhi Visa Office can be found in the table below: