Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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542. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when a decision will be made on an application for a visa by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24294/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I can advise the Deputy that the application referred to was created on the 27 May 2022, and received by the New Delhi visa office on the 23 June 2022.

I am informed that the visa office in Delhi has been engaging with the applicant’s legal representative in relation to additional documentation, which I understand has since been supplied. The legal representative was informed that further information was being sought from other Government bodies, and I understand that liaison is ongoing.

Our office in New Delhi is experiencing unprecedented demand, with application numbers up 86% this year compared to the same period in 2019. This has resulted in a backlog of more complex applications involving family reunification. I am informed that the visa office is progressing the application, and is seeking to make a decision as soon as possible.

Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility (inisoireachtasmail@justice.ie) which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.