Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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162. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if general employment permit holders, their agencies and employers have been made aware of recent amendments to the salary requirements of the sponsor when applying for a family reunification visa after one year's service, wherein the net income per week based on the working family payment has increased, in view of the fact that employers may not be in a position to increase the sponsor’s wages in order that they satisfy the eligibility requirements for a family reunification application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25244/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Long Stay Join Family visa applications are processed in accordance with the guidelines set out in the Policy Document on Non-EEA Family Reunification. This policy document may be accessed at the following link:

www.irishimmigration.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Policy-document-on-Non-EEA-family-reunification.pdf.

This policy, which was last amended in 2016, is currently under review.

The policy document sets out the rationale for applying resource requirements as part of the overall assessment of whether to approve an application for family reunification. In general terms, the sponsor must demonstrate their capacity to provide for their family member(s) if they are to be granted a permission to come to Ireland.

As a guideline, Category B sponsors such as those on General Employment Permits, regardless of occupation, must have a gross income in excess of that applied by the Department of Social Protection (DSP) in assessing eligibility for the Working Family Payment (formerly Family Income Supplement). In examining such applications, my Department applies the DSP income levels current at the time of assessment.