Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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454. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of visa applications for those issued with general work permits that were processed each week in the past 12 months; if she is aware of the effect delays in processing have on businesses when employers are waiting over six months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30494/23]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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In order to work in Ireland, a non-EEA national, unless they are exempted, must hold a valid employment permit, which is administered by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE).

In relation to the role of my Department, non-EEA nationals cannot work in Ireland unless they have an immigration permission. For non-EEA nationals that are not visa-required, they must register their permission with my Department within 90 days of their arrival in Ireland. For those who are visa-required, they must apply for a long stay employment visa, also called a 'D' visa, once they have been granted an employment permit from DETE.

Further details on long stay employment visas can be found on my Department's Irish Immigration website (www.irishimmigration.ie).

It is important to note that the granting of a work permit and the granting of a visa are two distinct application processes with different checks and procedures in place in each respective Department. I can assure the Deputy that my Department is aware of the time sensitive nature of employment visas and ensures that they are treated as priority applications.

Employment applications of this nature are processed by Department of Justice officials in the Dublin visa office and the seven dedicated Visa offices overseas, as well as by officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs under delegated sanctions in the many missions/Embassies located across the world. Processing times for visas in the overseas offices will vary by location but an average processing time of 4-6 weeks would be expected, no applicant should be waiting as long as indicated by the Deputy for a first instance decision on an employment application. The Visa office Dublin are currently processing first instance applications of this type received on the 20 May 2023.

Appeals of a negative first instance decision are not processed by DFA officials under delegated sanctions and come to Department of Justice staff, typically the Dublin visa office, for processing. As a result appeal decisions typically have a longer lead time. Currently the Dublin office is processing appeals which were received in 29 August 2022. Applicants can keep up-to-date with the dates the Visa Office in Dublin are processing by checking the following page; which is updated weekly:

www.irishimmigration.ie/visa-decisions/

I can further advise the Deputy 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.

The aim of such a single permit process would be to simplify the procedure for third country nationals wishing to migrate legally for work. This will improve the experience for people who want to move to and work in our country, as well as enhance the service provided to employers.

The below table outlines the number of Employment Visa applications received in each week for the past 12 months, the number of applications approved, refused, and the number granted on appeal.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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455. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date in the determination of the appeals for visas in the case of the family of a person (details supplied); when the appeals can be expected to be finalised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30545/23]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The visa applications referred to by the Deputy were refused by the Visa Office in Dublin on 24 January 2023. The reasons for this decision were set out in the refusal letter sent to the applicants at that time. An appeal of this decision was launched on 8 March 2023.

Appeals for applications of this type are processed in the order in which they are received, to be fair to all applicants. While every effort is made to process these applications as soon as possible, processing times will vary having regard to the volume of appeals received, their complexity, the possible need for the visa office to seek further information in relation to certain appeals and the resources available to process them.

All visa applicants are advised that the onus is on them to provide as much information in support of their application as they feel is necessary. Guidelines in this regard are posted on the Immigration Service website. When making an appeal, the applicant should take into account the reasons for refusal listed in the refusal letter. The appeal should include any further information or additional documentation they wish to have considered, and should be sent for the attention of the Visa Appeals Officer, in the relevant Visa Office, where the matter will be considered afresh.

Full consideration will be given to any appeals received on behalf of the applicants, however the onus is on applicants to satisfy the Visa Officer that visas should be granted. Processing times and decisions at the Overseas Visa Offices can be checked at the webpage for the relevant office.

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.